OLD TESTAMENT EXAM #4

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I. INTRODUCTION

1. Major and Minor Prophets

- Major just means longer books

- In the Hebrew Bible, it's called the Book of the 12

2. More preachers than predictors

- They look at the here and now.

3. Real people who struggled with God as we do

4. Called for righteous living

5. Supremely concerned with worship

- Worship is life and heart change

II. ISAIAH

Chapter breakdown | One who is to come

1-39: PRESENT (NOT FAITHFUL) | KING

40-55: EXILE | SERVANT

56-66: FUTURE | WARRIOR

A. BACKGROUND

- Isaiah ministered from 740BC to 690BC

- Has more messianic prophecy than any other prophet

- Quoted more times in the NT than any other prophet (115 times)

- Time of economic prosperity but spiritual corruption

- Pekah was the last stable king Israel had before Assyria came in and put people on the throne

- Southern Kings: Uzziah / Jotham / Ahaz / Hezekiah

B. MAIN THEMES

1. SIN

2. HOLINESS OF GOD: Referred to as holy one of Israel

3. SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

4. MESSIAH

5. MISSION

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III. JEREMIAH

ORACLE: prophetic message

Full scale assault against cultural religion which refuses to acknowledge its sin and seeks shelter in empty ritual

A. BACKGROUND

- From Anathoth, line of Abiathar (tribe of Levi)

- Prophesized during a time of change (Southern Kingdom)

- All the way up to the fall of Jerusalem 587BC

- Big renewal / reform under King Josiah, but when he dies in battle everything goes back

- Forbidden by God to marry

- Eventually taken away to Egypt; the people dragged Jeremiah with them after SK crumbled

B. MAIN THEMES

- SIN: the heart is deceitful above all things

- HARLOTRY / WHOREDOM

- KNOWING GOD

- TEMPLE SERMON

People go to church but aren't concerned with following God

- THE NEW COVENANT

- MINISTRY

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IV. LAMENTATIONS

A. BACKGROUND

- Jeremiah is the author

- The whole book is a sorrowful crying out to God

- Reflection on the fall of Jerusalem

- Poetic lamenting often in acrostic form

B. MAIN THEMES

- MOURNING OVER THE JUDGMENT OF SIN

This book owns our responsibility

Recognition that God had done this

Steadfast love from the Lord never ceases

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V. EZEKIEL

From a priestly line

A. BACKGROUND

- Same time as Jeremiah

- Some people were taken away from Jerusalem and into Babylon, and Ezekiel was one of them

- He has the most unusual behavior of the prophets

- This prophet is often judged as pathological

- He laid on one side for over a year; baked his bread over cow dung; not allowed to mourn his wife. This is what will happen to Israel.

- The Lord tells him to shave his head and gather it in three groups; burn one, strike another with a sword, toss another in the wind. Keep a little bit folded into your robe. That represents what will happen to the people of Israel.

B. MAIN THEMES

- HARD MINISTRY

- JUDGMENT (SAME CATEGORY AS SIN)

Through a vision, the Lord takes Ezekiel by the hair to Jerusalem. He sees people in the temple worshipping false gods. "Go through the city and mark anyone who laments the wickedness of the place. Pass through the city after him and strike (sparing anyone with a mark)." The vision is showing God's future judgment, beginning with the temple. Glory has departed.

- SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

- WORK OF THE SPIRIT

Ezekiel gets taken to a valley filled with dry bones. "HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD!!" Winds rattle the bones and they begin to line up / came together. They magically turn back into people with actual flesh.

- RESTORATION

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VI. DANIEL

"God is my judge"

A. BACKGROUND

- Parts of Daniel are written in Aramaic

- Living in Babylon as an exile

- Nebuchadnezzar took the best and the brightest. Among that group is Daniel, and he's taken away to Babylon.

- This book contains some of the most stirring stories in the Bible

- "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile." Any exiles are made Babylonian.

- The meat was sacrificed / offered to idols, however, so they didn't want to eat it. They appeal to the king and show that they are more healthy from eating water and vegetables.

- Daniel and the lion's den

B. MAIN THEMES

- GOD IS STILL SOVEREIGN IN A FOREIGN LAND

- CALL TO FAITHFULNESS

- GOD CAN STILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE

- GOD HUMBLES THE PROUD

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VII. HOSEA

Prophet of unconditional love

A. BACKGROUND

- Begins his ministry at a time of great economic prosperity

- Story has to do with marriage

- Married a prostitute because God told him to, and they have children (No Mercy, Not Mine).

- Wife returns to prostitution and Hosea has to get her back again

- The book has similarities to Jeremiah

B. MAIN THEMES

- SPIRITUAL ADULTERY (like Jeremiah)

God is gracious and He will receive us back. "It's okay. I just love everyone." - That's NOT what God is. He uses judgment to get repentance.

- GOD'S PERSISTENT LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE

VIII. JOEL

Day of the Lord

A. BACKGROUND

- Recent locust plague so crops are dying

- Joel uses that incident to preach

B. MAIN THEMES

- JUDGMENT

- REPENTANCE

- RESTORATION

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X. AMOS

Prophet of Justice

A. BACKGROUND

- From Tekoa in the Southern Kingdom, but is sent to be a prophet in the Northern Kingdom (same time and area as Joel)

- His timeframe is basically the same as Isaiah; economic prosperity but moral decay

- Amos was a shepherd and fig picker (Southern shepherd prophet)

B. MAIN THEMES

- JUDGMENT

- SOCIAL JUSTICE: calling for equal/proper treatment of individuals

- REJECTION OF EMPTY WORSHIP: Go to church and increase your sin

- CALL TO REPENTANCE

XI. OBADIAH

Servant of Yahweh

A. BACKGROUND

- Judgment on Edom

- This book is not directed to Israel, but pagan people

B. MAIN THEMES

God will judge Edom because of

- ARROGANCE: "The pride of your heart has deceived you." I will bring you down, declares the Lord.

- MISTREATMENT OF ISRAEL: Recall Abraham's covenant. "Those who curse you, I will curse."

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XII. JONAH

A. BACKGROUND

- Same time as Hosea (economic prosperity but moral decay)

- Northern Kingdom prophet

- From area that will later be called Galilee

- Called to preach to Ninevah, capital of Assyria

- Jonah is a story/narrative rather than a list of messages

- He traveled to Tarshish, what we call Spain today, to run away from God

- Didn't want to go to Ninevah because he wanted them to die

- The boat he's on has difficulties and the people throw him overboard because Jonah says that'll calm the storm

- He eventually goes and preaches, and people listen to what Jonah says. God approves of Ninevah's repentance.

- God: "You have no concern for these people; you were interested in your own comfort."

B. MAIN THEMES

- JUDGMENT ON SIN: status of Ninevah

- COMPASSION: God sends them a prophet before destruction

- SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

XIII. MICAH

A. BACKGROUND

- Same time as Isaiah

- Speaks to both Northern and Southern Kingdom

B. MAIN THEMES

- JUDGMENT: The people do not want to hear from God

- SOCIAL JUSTICE: Woe to those who devise wickedness and perform evil on your bed; opposes oppressive leaders and false prophets

- RESTORATION: God is going to bring blistering judgment but will restore

- TRUE WORSHIP: Other prophets have rebuked false worship

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XIV. NAHUM

Judgment on Assyria

A. BACKGROUND

- Assyria was the world superpower

- Forces king to wear bloody head of son around neck (?)

B. MAIN THEMES

- GOD IS A REFUGE FOR HIS PEOPLE

- GOD IS A WARRIOR WHO WILL JUDGE

XV. HABAKKUK

A. BACKGROUND

- Last days of Judah

- Remember the kingdom destruction dates

- Babylon is emerging as a world power

- Different from the others in structure

- Conversation between God and Habbakuk

B. MAIN THEMES

- FREEDOM OF GOD: God brings judgment when it seems right to him; uses the wicked to accomplish his purposes. God channels wickedness and manages it for good purposes.

- FINAL TRIUMPH OF GOD

- GOD WILL WIN

- LIVING BY FAITH: Habbakuk has to trust God; living while knowing destruction is coming.

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XVI. ZEPHANIAH

A. BACKGROUND

- Same time as Jeremiah

B. MAIN THEMES

- DAY OF THE LORD: Zephaniah gives the most extensive content on this

1. Lord's intrusion into human affairs; describes God as king and divine warrior

2. Universal; wrath and worship

- RESTORATION

XVII. HAGGAI

Consider your ways

A. BACKGROUND

- Back in promised land

- Started to rebuild temple; got started but quit

- Put personal comfort ahead of spiritual priorities

B. MAIN THEMES

- REBUILD THE TEMPLE: consider your ways; they hear and obey

- BLESSING ON OBEDIENCE: God blesses them, but this can be abused (doing right things because you expect something in return)

- THE ULTIMATE RESTORATION

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XVIII. ZECHARIAH

A. BACKGROUND

- He follows Haggai

- The temple has been rebuilt but the people have wandered from God

B. MAIN THEMES

- NIGHT VISIONS: Zechariah has prophetic visions at night.

a) Judgment on the nations

b) Future glory

c) Lord says he'll remove sin of people in one day

d) Day of small things

e) The branch

- MESSIANIC PROPHESY: More in Zechariah than any OT book besides Isaiah

- RESTORATION

XVIIII. MALACHI

"Is it worthwhile to serve God?"

A. BACKGROUND

- Half a century (at least) after Haggai and Zechariah

- Temple is functioning but worship is worthless/meaningless

- God makes a statement and people object

B. MAIN THEMES

- THE LOVE OF GOD

- FALSE WORSHIP

- AWE OF GOD: Rebuking them if they don't stand in awe of Him

- SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE: God hates divorce and desires Godly seed