THE MAJOR PROPHETS:

1
THE MAJOR PROPHETS

• THEIR LIFE
• AND MESSAGE

2
FIRST ISAIAH (739-685 BC)

• KINGS OF JUDAH AZARIAH, JOTHAM, AHAZ, HEZEKIAH,
  MANASSEH
• KINGS OF ISRAEL PEKAH, HOSHEA
• EMPEROR OF ASSYRIA SENNACHERIB

3
FIRST ISAIAH LIFE

• COURT PROPHET FROM AN ARISTIOCRATIC/ROYAL
  FAMILY--SON OF AMOZ
• LIVED IN JERUSALEM W/WIFE AND TWO SONS
• WALKED STREETS NAKED AND BAREFOOT AS SIGN OF
  JUDAHS COMING DESTRUCTION

4
FIRST ISAIAH MESSAGE

• JUDAH MUST REPENT OF ITS INJUSTICE AND CARE FOR
  POOR
• GODS PUNISHMENT IMMINENT WILL PURIFY THE
  COMMUNITY
• A REMNANT WILL BE SAVED THROUGH A DAVIDIC
  MESSIAH
• PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP W/GOD MORE IMPORTANT THAN
  EXTERNAL RELIGIOUS RITUALS, ESP. WHEN FALSE,
  INSINCERE

5
FIRST ISAIAH MESSAGE CONT.

• NOTED FOR
• ALLEGORY OF THE VINEYARD (CH 5)
• AWE BEFORE HOLINESS OF GOD (HOLY, HOLY, HOLY . .
  . CH 6)
• IMMANUEL PROPHECY (CH 7)
• DAVIDIC MESSIAH (PRINCE OF PEACE . . . SHOOT OF
  JESSE . . . CH 9 AND 11)
• SAVING OF THE REMNANT (CH 10)

6
SECOND ISAIAH(550-540 BC) LIFE

• KING OF PERSIA CYRUS
• LIVED IN BABYLON DURING EXILE
• MAY HAVE BEEN FROM SCHOOL OF FIRST ISAIAH
• PROPHET OF HOPE

7
SECOND ISAIAH MESSAGE

• GOD WILL RAISE UP AN ANOINTED ONE TO RESCUE HIS
  PEOPLE, RETURN THEM TO JUDAH (CYRUS CH 44)
• SUFFERING NOT THE END THE SUFFERING SERVANT
  TO BE A MEANS OF SALVATION FOR ALL PEOPLE
  (CH 42,49,50,52-53)
• GOD LOVES, COMFORTS HIS PEOPLE

8
SECOND ISAIAH MESSAGE CONT.

• NOTED FOR
• BEAUTY OF POETIC IMAGERY-- HOPE AND CONSOLATION
• THE ANOINTED ONE--CYRUS
• THE SUFFERING SERVANT
• UNIVERSAL SALVATION

9
JEREMIAH (627-580 BC)

• KINGS OF JUDAH JOSIAH, JEHOAHAZ, JEHOIAKIM,
  JEHOIACHIN, ZEDEKIAH, GEDALIAH
• KING OF BABYLON NEBUCHADNEZZAR

10
JEREMIAH LIFE

• BORN OF PRIESTLY FAMILY AT ANATHOTH NEAR
  JERUSALEM
• NEVER MARRIED
• WORE YOKE AS SIGN OF JUDAHS COMING BONDAGE
• CONFINED TO STOCKS, IMPRISONED ON CHARGES OF
  TREASON, BLASPHEMY

11
JEREMIAH MESSAGE

• GOD WILL PUNISH INJUSTICE TO ORPHANS, WIDOWS,
  REFUGEES
• GOD CALLS US TO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP--FORMAL
  RELIGIOUS RITUAL NOT ENOUGH FOR SALVATION
• GOD WILL REPLACE THE OLD COVENANT WITH A NEW
  COVENANT WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS

12
JEREMIAH MESSAGE CONT.

• NOTED FOR
• TEMPLE SERMON (CH 7)
• IMAGE POTTERS FLASK (CH 19)
• EMOTIONAL CRISIS (CH 20)
• IMPRISONMENT (CH 37-38)
• RESTORATION AND RETURN NEW
  COVENANT (CH 31)

13
EZEKIEL (593-570 BC) LIFE

• KING OF JUDAH ZEDEKIAH
• KING OF BABYLON NEBUCHADNEZZAR
• A PRIEST, SON OF BUZI
• MARRIED AND THEN WIDOWED
• PROPHET OF THE EXILE LIVED BY RIVER CHEBAR IN
  BABYLON

14
EZEKIEL MESSAGE

• HOLINESS OF TEMPLE COMES FROM GODS
  PRESENCE--THUS PEOPLE CALLED TO JUSTICE
• BECAUSE JUDAH HAS FAILED THE COVENANT, GOD WILL
  DESTROY JERUSALEM, THE TEMPLE
• IF PEOPLE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS,
  GOD WILL BRING THEM BACK TO JERUSALEM, BUILD NEW
  TEMPLE

15
EZEKIEL MESSAGE CONT.

• NOTED FOR
• ALLEGORY OF SHEPHERDS CH 34
• VISION OF THE DRY BONES (CH 37)
• MANY ALLEGORIES (VINE, EAGLES, CEDAR, POT,
  UNFAITHFUL WIFE)
• THE NEW TEMPLE (CH 40-48)