Work of the Prophets
Introduction
God follows justice and order, as was revealed by the teachings of his prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah over the Israelite nation. Indeed, the prophets were sent by God to educate people on the importance of following through the lord’s ways and the punishments that would accrue to them if they never reformed in their wicked ways. God is also revealed as merciful through the prophets who prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ as a savior and the reconciliation of the Israelites to their God (Jeremiah 29:11). A review of prophet Isaiah and Jeremiah’s teachings brings a closer understanding of the call of God and the relevance their teachings are to Christians today.
The sins of the nations of Judah and Israel and
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Prophet Isaiah was hence passionate about rescuing people from their iniquities, and he regularly preached on repentance and adopting Godly standards. The prophet also besieged the people to turn away from their evil ways and seek the true God to evade punishments. As a punishment, prophet Isaiah prophesied that God would deny Judah competent leaders, water and food (Isaiah 3: 1-7). Indeed a nation lacking good Godly leaders would lead to its self-destruction since it would lack God’s guidance and purpose. The leaders would rule led by their selfish desires and they would hence not consider the people they rule over (Isaiah 2:7). Prophet Isaiah also said that God would make babies their rulers and children to be their princes. Judah would also lack in talented men and artisans who would offer their skill in the betterment of the nation. Further, the prophet prophesied that the young generation would disrespect their elders and would not serve them in …show more content…
Jesus would hence serve God and lead the people to god’s kingdom. Jesus would also rebuild Jerusalem and the temple (Jeremiah 29:10-14). The king would reunite the northern and the southern people of Israel, and they would again become one nation (Jeremiah 3: 18). God would also restore the covenant he had with the Israelites and their city again (Jeremiah: 30). Prophet said prophesied that God would bring healing to the people and make the nation strong
In the eleventh century BCE Israel is divided into twelve tribes. The prophet Samuel is called upon to bring the people under one ruler or king and lead Israel into a monarchy. However this brings a major split and for the first time we find a military and political leader, the King, along with a spiritual leader, or the prophet. The prophet played the role of moral keeper and would make sure that the King was ruling justly and keeping the Law of God.
Jeremiah had a very unique message in his time that dealt with the way that people lived their own lives. He believed that sin was chiefly directed towards Judah. It states this point in Jeremiah chapter 5 verse 11, "For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly faithless to me, says the Lord." (Harper Collins, 1124). With that, the sins of Judah were that of the sins of the people of Judah. Each person must reduce his or her own sins in order for the whole nation to finally turn to God (Baughman, 153).
Among Jewish peasantry at the time of Jesus were two distinct types of prophets: the action prophets, who "led sizable movements of peasants from the villages of Judea in anticipation of God's new, eschatological act of liberation," and the oracular prophets, who delivered oracles of either judgment or deliverance (185). The former, as illustrated by the case of Theudas, appea...
Judah’s greatest shortcoming was their denial of God and the resulting action of them walking away from Him. They had done this by making offerings to other false gods and worshiping the work of their own hands (Jeremiah 1:16, English Standard Version). Even though they had sinned against God, he tried to remind them that they once loved him like a bride in their youth (Jeremiah 2:1-3, English Standard Version). The Lord would send Jeremiah to call Israel and Judah to repentance. Even after all, of their sinful ways, the Lord would say to them returned to me and I will not show anger towards you.
Even though the prophets were met with hostility and rebuking from the people, due to the evil in peoples hearts, they continued to speak the words of God. The Prophets knew they would face danger because of the words they spoke, but they also knew the words of God had to be heard. The prophets were an important tool in redirecting the people which makes their role in the history of Israel and Judah one of the most important roles.
Deuteronomy 20:16-18, “But of the cities of these people, which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, but you shall utterly destroy them: The Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you, lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.”
Isaiah was written before Messiah came, and wanted the people to be ready for when Messiah did come. I believe this passage fits in context with the book in that it serves as both an encouragement and a warning to the people. First, the people should be encouraged that Messiah is indeed coming to save the people. However, I believe Isaiah wrote this passage to warn the people that they needed to prepare themselves for the coming Messiah. Isaiah wrote this knowing that Jesus would be despised by many, and I believe he was trying to tell the people to be in expectance of him, in hopes that they would not turn against their Lord.
In the passage quoted from Jeremiah above, the prophet is predicting that a new covenant would be formed between God and his people, an agreement that would supersede the pact made between Moses and God upon Sinai and at the Red Sea. The first covenant, Jeremiah indicated, would become null and void because of the sins of the Jewish people. The new covenant would absolve these sins and reaffirm God's fidelity to his people.
Surveying the Old Testament reveals the theme of God’s faithfulness to his people. In light of this understanding, the restoration of the Israelites prophesized in the Old Testament is essentially the fulfillment of every covenant with God. This perspective relates to the work of Christ and encourages any follower of God to trust in his faithfulness.
Samuel, a prophet anointed to speak of God’s word to the nation, represents one way of governing. God works through the prophet’s words to remind the people of Israel to be faithful to the terms of the Covenant. A second ...
Smith, James E. The Major Prophet. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1992. Print. The. Old Testament Survey Series -.
God’s goodness and mercy far transcends the comprehension of the most brilliant human mind! He “who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth”(Psalm 113:6).Yet in His infinite love for us He stoops down to reveal Himself to us by a multitude of illustration, types, and shadows, so that we may learn to know him. This paper will describe what is meant by the Kingdom of God; examine the religious philosophy of the various sects of Judaism during the Second Temple period: Pharisee, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots, describe the religious philosophy and political philosophy of each sects, it will also describe how the Messianic expectation differ from the Messianic role that Jesus presented, and include an exegesis of the temptation of Jesus and how other sects defined the Messiah.
Jesus’ healing ministry constructed a profound theological statement to Israel, similar to his selection of the twelve apostles and his eating with sinners. God’s promise one day to establish his kingdom and renew his people visible and available in preview to any who witnessed his deeds of the teacher from Nazareth.
The prophet Isaiah lived during a very troublesome era during the years 742-701B.C.E. He preached during the reigns of four kings of Judah: Uzziah (783-742), Jotham (742-735), Ahaz (735-715), and Hezekiah (715-687). Judah faced many challenges and crises throughout those years primarily at the hands of the Assyrian Empire. Isaih interpreted the events as part of the Lord's will, and he encourages the people to trust in the Lord rather than relying on political alliances.
Back in Abraham’s day, God promised him that he would make a great nation for him. From that promise, two beginnings of messianic prophecy would take shape. One would emphasize the glorious future of the Kingdom of Israel, and the other would speak to the coming work of the Messiah, portraying him not as a reigning king but as a suffering servant who would be slain on behalf of his people.