Reading the OT Prophets

WHO ARE THEY?

16 Total Prophets    4 Major     12 Minor 

These 16 men were God’s spokesmen to His people. 

They spoke God’s message and not their own.

WHERE DO THEY APPEAR IN OT & WRITE?

They wrote over 3 ½ centuries 800 B.C. to 400 B.C. 

4 time different and distinct time periods

• The 8^th Century   Key Date:  722 B.C.

Prophets:  Jonah, Isaiah, Micah, Hosea, and Amos

• The Rise of the Babylonian Empire    

Key Date:  587 B.C.  7^th Century, early 6^th century

Prophets: Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Obadiah, Joel, and Habakkuk

• The Exile  Key Date:  587-538 B.C.

Prophets:  Ezekiel and Daniel

• After the Exile  Key Date:  583 to 5^th Century

Prophets Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi

HOW TO READ THE PROPHETS?

• Where Do the Prophets Fit into the Story? slides
• How Do They Relate to the Covenant?

KEY THEMES OF THE PROPHETS?

• A Call to Covenant Faithfulness
• Judgment is Coming If You Don’t Respond
• The Call for Social Justice
• Hope Of a Future
• They Would Know I Am the Lord

HOW DO WE AS CHRISTIANS READ THE PROPHETS?

• What Does It Mean to Love God With Covenant Faithfulness?
• What Are My Idols?
• Address Injustice and Lack of Concern for the Poor.
• God Still Calls Us to Repentance.
• What is God’s Kingdom Vision for the Future?

LEARN THE WORD

• Commit to Reading the Word of God every day for the rest of the year. Put aside all your excuses and make the plunge that could forever change your life!  Use your Bible, reading plans online or Bible App.  

LOVE THE WORD

• Commit to being in Worship and LifeGroups to hearing and loving the Word of God taught and applied.
• Make space in your life for the Word and Jesus – Fall more in love with Jesus as you read and digest His Words to you!!

LIVE THE WORD

• Don’t just get the Word in you, but also get it out of you! Be open & listen to the opportunities to share what you have learned from God’s Word and how it has helped or changed you and how it might help or encourage others

What is one specific application of biblical truth you have made to your life in the past week or month?  How has it made a difference in your life?   Identify one way in your life right now where you need to apply something you read this week or in the past.