146 BIBLE STUDY METHODS: PROPHETS. The Nature of Prophecy

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1 146 BIBLE STUDY METHODS: PROPHETS There are more books under the heading Prophets than any other type in the Bible. Four are called Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel). The only reason they are called Major is because of their length. The rest are called Minor because they are shorter in length, compared to the Major Prophets. The terms have no other significance. The Nature of Prophecy The reason these books are challenging to read relates to their form (literary style), and (2) function (speaking for God). The Meaning of Prophecy Prophecy has two purposes. We usually only think of one of the two. 1. To foretell or predict Examples: Isaiah 44:28, 45:1 (Isaiah prophesied from B.C.) Often we only think of prophecies as speaking about Christ. In this case however, there was a double meaning. Cyrus was a real king. The prophet predicted that Cyrus would overthrow Babylon. Cyrus did this in October, 539. B.C. He issued decrees for rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem in 538 B.C. (See Jeremiah 1:1). Less than 2% of Old Testament prophecies are Messianic. Less than 45% relate to the New Covenant age. Less than 1% relate to events to come. Most are God s words to His people then, but they can also speak to us today, and often do. 2. To forthtell To pronounce instructions, correction or judgment on God s people. This was the primary role of the prophet. Of the hundreds of prophets in the Old Testament, only sixteen were recorded as speaking forth the oracles of God. Other prophets are known only for their deeds (Examples: Elijah and Elisha). In the prophetic books, we hear from them, not about them! The prophetic books are collections of oracles. They are not always in chronological order. Most were poetic in form. 1

2 The Prophet s Function to Israel Prophets were covenant enforcement mediators. They not only spoke for God, but they also enforced His commands. 1. They could pronounce blessings or curses. 2. Moses was the paradigm (model) for all prophets. His life and his writings show how prophets ought to live, even though they were far from perfect. 3. Moses was a mediator. He stood between the people and God. All O.T. prophets did this. The blessings and curses spoken by Moses, and the other prophets of God are from the Holy Spirit, not from the men who spoke them. 4. Blessings and curses were not usually aimed at individuals. They were mostly corporate in nature. 5. Look for the pattern. The curses could take the form of metaphors. Even so, they were still God s decrees. Here s the pattern: a. Identification of Israel s sin or God s love for her b. Prediction of curses or blessings When prophets failed, it was because they tried to originate something God did not tell them to say or do. No one was above the prophet s words. The prophet was compelled to speak, even when it involved great personal risk, which was often. When the prophet spoke, it was in response to the people s behavior. Would they obey the covenant stipulations, or be in rebellion? Messianic Prophecies Their nature was progressive. Isaiah 42, 49, 50 and 53 are examples. Genesis 3:15 and Deuteronomy 8:18 had pronounced His coming. Interpretations of prophetic writings should function within the context of these prophetic truths. Exegetical Task of Interpreting Prophecy Understanding the prophets requires careful analysis. Outside reference materials are greatly helpful. Use Bible dictionaries, commentaries and of course, first of all, the Bible. Word studies are helpful. A good concordance and topical studies help. 2

3 The Historical Context There are two kinds of historical contexts: The larger historical context; or, specific historical contexts. 1. The Larger Historical Context The 16 prophetic books fall between 760 and 460 B.C. Why? There was a need to enforce the covenants of God. a. These were times of political, social and economic upheaval, which influenced the Israelites walk with God - mostly in the negative sense. b. There was great unfaithfulness to the Lord during this period. c. Judah separated from Israel. There were significant shifts of boundaries and governments. 2. Specific Contexts Every Oracle was given in a specific setting for specific purposes. Each was given to an identifiable audience, at a specific time in history. They were spoken because the occasion demanded that an oracle from God be spoken. Example: Hosea 5:8-10 (a war oracle, announcing that the judgment of God would be carried out in battle.) When studying the Prophets, isolate the individual oracles. There may be more than one oracle in a paragraph or chapter. So don t think in terms of paragraphs or chapters. Think oracles! Much of our confusion comes from combining oracles. Three Forms of Prophetic Utterance 1. Lawsuit Example: Isaiah 3:13-26 This is allegorical literature. God is the Plaintiff, Prosecuting Attorney and Judge. Israel is the defendant. There is a charge. Evidence is given and a verdict is pronounced. 2. Woe Example: Habakkuk 2:6-8 This was a prediction of imminent doom. It was sometimes allegorical. There were at least three elements: a. An announcement of distress b. The reason for the distress c. The prediction of doom 3

4 3. Promise Oracle or Salvation Oracle Example: Amos 9:11-15 God spoke through the prophet to Israel and to us about His coming salvation; and, how it would be in the end times. There were at least three elements. a. Reference to the future b. Mention of a radical change c. Mention of a blessing Prophecy is Poetry. The major reason prophecy was poetic was so that it could be orally transmitted. Therefore, it had to be easily memorized so the prophecy could be brought to others without corrupting its message. Some prophetic books are fully poetic, others only partially so. Poetic prophecy follows normal poetry rules, but here are three poetic parallelisms upon which we should focus: 1. Synonymous Parallelism (The first line being repeated on the second line with slightly different words) Examples: Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3: They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. 2. Antithetical Parallelism (The first thought contrasts with the second part of the couplet. They are opposites. These are most common in Proverbs and Psalms.) Example: Isaiah 43: Synthetic Parallelism (The second thought completes or compliments the first thought. It can go from bad to good or good to bad.) Example: Zephaniah 1:13; Isaiah 12:2 4. Progressive Parallelism (adding one thought that builds on another to produce the message) Example: Isaiah 12:2 + Isaiah 12:3 5. Climactic Parallelism (Here the poetic oracle progressively adds to the first thought to form the complete thought. This is progressive parallelism taken to its conclusion.) Example: Isaiah 9:6-7 As you can see, it is often difficult to put a prophetic oracle or a part of an oracle in a specific parallelism category. With the exception of antithetical parallelisms, it seems as though an oracle can fit more than one category. (Additional categories of parallelisms may be found in reference material.) 4 A couplet is defined as, two lines of verse, usually in the same meter, joined by rhythm to form a unit. A meter is defined as the basic pulse and rhythm of a piece of music - in this case, poetry.

5 Hermeneutics for the Prophetic Books People are still people and God is still God. Therefore, it is not that difficult to interpret what was said in Old Testament times, for it to become relevant for today. Old Covenant sins are alive and well in these New Covenant times. 1. Not everything the prophets spoke is for us. An example is Ezekiel Most of this material concerned the fate of the nations surrounding Israel. It came to pass shortly after it was pronounced. However, in the midst of Ezekiel 25-39, there is a messianic prophecy describing the New Covenant and the blessings of the Messiah upon the church (Ezekiel 37:15-28). See the doctrine of Sensus Plenior, below. 2. Read the prophets, oracle by oracle. Look for the intent of the author. Watch his style and the way his thoughts are worded. Seek New Testament confirmation. Sensus Plenior (Fuller Meaning) In some cases, the Holy Spirit moved on a New Testament writer to bring a fuller or second valid meaning to Old Testament prophecy. This can be confusing. Usually, the fuller meaning points to Christ, and there should be no conflict. Here is an example from Hosea and Matthew: (Hosea 11:1 NKJV) When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. (Matthew 2:15 NKJV) and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt I called My Son. Original Context of Hosea 11: Israel s rescue from Egypt (Exodus) Original Intent of Hosea 11:1: To show God s love for Israel as His own child Context of Matthew 2:15: Joseph s family is rescued. Intent of Matthew 2:15: To show God s provision for His Son. Style of Matthew 2:15: Gospel historical narrative box, in which Old Testament poetry has been inserted as a quote Wording of Matthew: It is a literal narrative with a metaphorical quotation, which refers to the following: 5

6 Egypt = a metaphor for fallen mankind, and the evil within! Son = Jesus, the Son of God, not Israel The Holy Spirit, through Matthew, created a fuller meaning (sensus plenior) to the Scripture Out of Egypt I have called my Son. Two final, very important terms: Orthodoxy = correct belief. Orthopraxy = correct practice. When studying prophecy (and the rest of the Bible), be sure you have both. 6