542 Read the Bible for Yourself 9: How to Read the Prophets Restitutio

This is part 9 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.
The 17 books of the prophets comprise 27% of the Old Testament. Although some parts can be difficult to comprehend, they reveal the heart of God with raw pathos and brutal honesty. To read the prophets, then, is to draw near to God. No other section of scripture so beautifully and tragically reveals God's feelings. In this episode you'll learn about the major time periods, how to read the prophets within their context, and some of the major themes. As always, this brief survey should help you read and understand the bible for yourself.
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—— Notes ——
Canonical Arrangement

5 Major Prophets


Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel


12 Minor Prophets


Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

Chronological Arrangement

early pre-exilic: Amos, Hosea, Jonah, Micah, Isaiah
late pre-exilic: Nahum, Zephaniah, Obadiah, Joel, Habakkuk, Jeremiah
exilic: Ezekiel, Daniel
post-exilic: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Setting

The historical context is helpful
In Jer 1.1-3, Jeremiah prophecies during the last days of the kingdom. He’s the last chance for the people to repent. Since they go into exile anyhow, it’s easy to anticipate that the people will not respond to Jeremiah.

The Prophet

God calls prophets into his service (Jer 1.4-6)
oftentimes, the prophet has access to the king and speaks to him
competition with false prophets (Jer 28.1-3, 15-17)

Acting out prophecies

Ezekiel

built a model of Jerusalem and acted out a siege against it (Ezek 4.1-3)
lay on his side for 390 days (Ezek 4.4-5)
cooked his food over animal excrement (Ezek 4.12, 14-15)


Jeremiah

shattered a piece of pottery (Jer 19.10-11)
wore an oxen yoke around (Jer 27.2)
bought a property while city is under siege (Jer 32.24-25)


Isaiah

walked barefoot and naked for 3 years (Is 20.2-4)


Hosea

married an unfaithful prostitute to illustrate God’s relationship w/ Israel who kept cheating on him with idols (Hos 1.2)



Preaching to the People

fidelity to the Torah, the covenant
justice in business dealings and courts
take care of the vulnerable quartet (Jer 22.11-16)
practice moral and ritual aspects of religion (Jer 7.4-10)
avoid fake righteousness and hypocrisy (Jer 9.8)
do not worship idols (Jer 7.16-18)

Prophesies of the Future

near judgment or restoration

judgment upon nations (Edom, Egypt, Syria, etc.)
use Assyrians/Babylonians to judge Israel/Judah
return to the land and enjoy covenant blessings
be faithful or lose the land again


eschatological judgment and restoration

a Davidic king will rule wisely and execute justice
healing for the lame, deaf, blind, etc.
healing for the land, especially the deserts
abundance and prosperity
peace among the nations
no need for militaries or even training for war
peace among the animals
elimination of death itself



Prophets Reveal God’s Heart

God is a lover
prophets express God’s emotions
lots of colorful language
God provides hope for the remnant

Review

The prophets make up a huge portion of the Old Testament (17 book