Prophets After the Exile

Transcription

1 Prophets After the Exile BACKGROUND HAGGAI Little is known about Haggai, though he is called a prophet various times in the book named for him. Because Haggai was able to speak to the two highest Hebrew officials at the time, the high priest and the governor, it seems obvious that he was well respected as a prophet. The book of Haggai gives specific dates that tell us Haggai prophesied for about three-and-a-half months. His assignment was specifically to get the temple rebuilt. Back in 587, the Babylonians had sacked Jerusalem and taken all the rich people and leaders back to Babylon. About 50 years later, the captives were allowed to return to Jerusalem. In all that time, not much had been done to clean up the mess the Babylonian armies had left behind. Houses were still piles of rubble, the protective wall around the city was broken, and the temple was destroyed. The book of Nehemiah tells how the wall around Jerusalem was rebuilt. After that was accomplished, the people began rebuilding houses and seemed to forget about rebuilding the temple. The wall around the city took priority, because it protected them from attack. Houses were also important, because these protected people from the elements. Rebuilding the temple may have been forgotten or postponed because it would have been even more work than the wall. Several other factors may have slowed down progress. The sheer size of the project may have been discouraging. The people also did not have the materials, wealth, or expertise that Solomon had when he first built the temple. Modern-day photos of the rebuilt wall show that it was poorly built, compared to the original structure. Haggai shamed the people into considering construction of the temple. After all, it was God who had brought them to the Promised Land, who had been with them through their history and was with them now, ever faithful. It stood to reason that they should put priority on getting the temple built, to properly worship God. WOMEN AS PROPHETS Though women in leadership are rare in the Bible, they are not unheard of. In fact, the Bible, when it refers to women in leadership, does not point out the rarity. The story of Deborah in the Book of Judges, or of Huldah, or Miriam, seems to be almost matter-of-fact. It is as though their gender is not an issue. It may be that there were many more women in leadership that were not recorded. In any case, it is clear that women were regarded as leaders, prophets and judges. Miriam, the Supporting Prophet Miriam was the sister of Moses, first recorded when Moses was a baby in the bulrushes. It was Miriam who offered Moses own mother as a wet nurse to the Pharaoh s daughter, when she found the baby in the bulrushes. Accounts mention Miriam again, directly after the crossing of the Red Sea. Then Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron [as well as the sister of Moses], took a timbrel in her hand... (Exodus 15: 20a). In a rather bizarre story (Numbers 12), we find that Miriam (and Aaron) did what prophets are supposed to do. Moses married a Have I Got News for You!: Prophets After the Exile 108

2 foreigner, and Miriam took him to task for it. The Israelites looked down on this practice. However, Miriam had overstepped her authority, and God gave her leprosy. Though her leadership role is uncertain, Miriam s designation as a prophetess is quite clear, meaning she got the call from God to prophesy to the people. She was important enough in the life of the Israelites that her death and burial were mentioned (Numbers 20:1). The prophet Micah, one of the Minor Prophets, also mentions Miriam as one of the trio who led the Israelites out of Egypt (Micah 6:4). Deborah Some leaders were prophets at least part of the time. Deborah is a good example. Not only is she one of the rare female leaders, but we are also told that her profession was as a prophet (Judges 4:4). It seems that Deborah was not only a prophet, but also a judge in the tradition of Moses (Exodus 18:15-16), settling disputes within her tribe. She receives news of enemies attacking and, in a prophetic oracle or saying, tells Barak, a known fighting man and well liked, to carry out war toward a certain General Sisera. She names the tribes that will accompany him. Barak, because he is reluctant to go, is told that he will not receive his due recognition in this war. Huldah Huldah is a mysterious figure. We are told that she is a prophet, though there is not record of her call or message. However, because she was the go-to person on matters of religion, it is apparent that she earned some measure of respect within the royal circle and among church officials. Huldah was a pivotal figure in one of the most significant reforms in the history of Israel. The Israel of David and Solomon was divided, and Huldah lived in what was known as the Southern Kingdom, or Judah. For many years, the people had not been following God, because the kings in charge were lukewarm to the idea. A boy-king named Josiah decided to tidy up the temple, which was messier than a teenager s room and much-neglected over many years. The priests found a book of the law, and Josiah knew that this was an important find. To see just how important, he sent his priests to the prophetess Huldah. She did not have good news. She said that because the people had neglected God and God s law, they would be punished. However, because Josiah had repented immediately when the book was brought to him and because he wanted to worship and honor God, there would be reprieve as long as he was king. Because Huldah was sought out by the priests, we can conclude that she was well-known for her insight and wisdom in important matters, especially relating to God s laws. Anna Tucked away in the birth narrative of Jesus, found in Luke, is another woman who foreshadowed Jesus ministry. The prophetess Anna was found in the temple, where she spent her time praying, worshipping and fasting night and day. She also spoke of [God] to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38). Simeon, an old and devout man, had just seen and blessed the infant Jesus when his parents brought him to the temple. Simeon declared that in this child he had beheld the salvation of all people, and he could now die a happy man. Right after this exchange came the description of Anna. In the narrative, it does not indicate that Anna ever saw or touched Jesus. This story was just a Have I Got News for You!: Prophets After the Exile 109

3 happy coincidence and was used by the writer to foretell that Jesus would fulfill both Simeon s insights and Anna s prophecies. JOHN THE BAPTIST John was a cousin and contemporary of Jesus. John s birth narrative is similar in some ways to that of Jesus. He was to be a precursor to the coming of one greater. It is a rare person who can give his all to a ministry and then purposely let his influence fade, to let someone else take over and do an even better job. John was such a person. The biblical record indicates that there had been no notable prophetic voice in the land for many generations. In effect, God had been silent, because God did not have a voice through the prophets. This silence was disturbing for the people, who may have been wondering where God had gone. John s prophetic credentials are presented in his annunciation, where he is compared to Elijah, one of the greatest prophets ever. Scholars believe that John took a vow similar to the Nazarite vow in the early prophetic tradition (2 Kings 1:8; Zechariah 13:4). (This term will be found on the final exam in relation to John the Baptist.) This vow may have acknowledged John s recognition that God had set him apart. The vow may have prevented him from cutting his hair or shaving. It also had some strange dietary and clothing restrictions. Locusts were considered clean food (Leviticus 11:20-23) and were the food of poor people living in the wilderness. The point of the vow was to keep people focused on what they felt called to do. John s habits and dress definitely set him apart from most of the people who came to him. We find out in Acts 19:1-3 that John unintentionally inspired a following that remained long after Jesus died. John s influence began early in his career, when he was compared to Elijah. The verse used to describe John, in Luke 3:3, is an Isaiah quote that was significant for the Jews. People felt that this verse referred to the end of time, when a savior or Messiah would come and set everything right, according to God s plan. Another sign of the end of times was the reappearance of Elijah. It is no wonder that, when John said there was someone coming even greater than he, that the people were ready for God to conquer the Romans and give the land back to God s people that is, the Jews. John carried many of the duties of a prophet. He was anointed by God, responded to God s call, and tried to call the ruler of the time, Herod Antipas, to account for the things he was doing wrong. John went too far and Herod had him arrested and finally beheaded. JESUS AND THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES Today, Israel is its own country. But throughout its history, it seemed that someone else was always conquering it or ruling it. After Solomon died, about 930 years before Christ was born, Israel was divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. Before it divided, the country was fairly strong and owned lots of foreign land. After the split, the two smaller kingdoms were also weaker and often conquered by stronger, bigger nations. During a brief period of about 200 years before Jesus was born, the people lived free of occupation. The Roman Empire, however, was the strongest and longest-lasting empire ever, and proved too much for Israel. Have I Got News for You!: Prophets After the Exile 110

4 So it was that when Jesus was born, Roman kings like Herod could order the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of babies to get rid of a baby who might take Herod s crown away. The Roman Empire was rich, because of the heavy taxation each country had to pay, the slave labor demanded of the people, and the natural resources the Romans took for themselves. The Jews regarded the times around Jesus birth and ministry to be similar to the slavery they had undergone in Egypt before Moses freed them, more than 1,000 years before. The one idea that kept coming back to the Jews, whenever they were conquered, was that God would one day send a Savior, a Messiah, to free the Jews forever and exact revenge on all those who had done wrong to Israel. The Romans had put idols for other gods in and around Jerusalem, including the temple. In one famous story, a Roman governor tried to put an idol in the temple, but the courtyard in front filled with Jews, who blocked the path of the soldiers. The governor said he would kill any Jew who did not get out of the way. Apparently all of the Jews in the courtyard exposed their necks, indicating willingness to be killed if necessary. The governor backed down, and the idol was placed somewhere else. Roman soldiers could ask for articles of clothing or demand that a Jew carry a pack for them. This was the background to Jesus second mile admonition (Matthew 5:40ff). They hired Jews to collect taxes. One of the twelve disciples, Levi, was a tax collector (Luke 5:27). These tax collectors made money for themselves by charging the people extra. The people saw these tax collectors as taking advantage of the poor and being too friendly with the Romans. Jesus was accused of going too far when he ate with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19). The Jews looked to the prophets as a sign of hope. Matthew s gospel refers several times to events in Jesus life that happened so that scripture may be fulfilled. Matthew and the other gospel writers went out of their way to tell people that Jesus was the fulfillment of ancient prophesies about a Messiah. Jesus was the One who would bring about reconciliation, and through his actions the Jews would be free again. Jesus accomplished all this, but not in the way the Jews expected. Instead of coming as a warrior and political leader, Jesus was a servant and peacemaker. This, in part, is why many Jews did not believe him to be the real Messiah. Jesus was a prophet in all the ways we have described so far. He was the epitome of what it means to be a prophet. He was called by God at his baptism (though recognized by others at his birth), and performed miracles of healing, of feeding crowds, and even raising people from the dead. He predicted the future (including his own), and was the voice of God for change in the society where he lived and in the hearts of the people who listened to him. Finally, he transcended what any prophet had offered before, by sacrificing himself so that all could come to God in a less complicated way than before. Jesus taught the people how to act through folksy parables and comparisons that helped them make sense of complex religious and theological concepts. He explained how to be the person God wanted each one to be. Through his example, we know it is possible for each of us to become prophets, if God calls us and we respond. Jesus did many things for us and can do many things through us with the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the forgiveness of our sins, we can renew our relationship with God and respond to what God would have us do. Are you ready? Have I Got News for You!: Prophets After the Exile 111

5 Prophets After the Exile LESSON 10: HAGGAI HELPS AT HOME Objective Students will understand that though Haggai was a lesser known prophet, his message from God gave the people the guidance they needed to finish the temple. Key Concepts As demonstrated by the Israelites, good intentions don t get the job done. God s purpose will not be sidetracked by lack of enthusiasm. Perseverance isn t flashy and exciting, but it accomplishes a lot more than dreaming big dreams. Estimated Lesson Time: 55 minutes Materials Several puzzles mixed together in a container Photos of finished craft or woodworking projects Meet the Prophet note sheets (p. 59) Prophets Journals Newsprint, markers Consider Worship handout (pp ) Teacher Preparation 1. Mix pieces from several puzzles in one container the more dissimilar the pieces, the better. For instance, include one or more puzzles for young children the type with a few, large pieces. 2. Become familiar with the background on Haggai, page Make copies of the Consider Worship handout. Half the class will use the side labeled Physical Space, and the other half will use the side titled Worship Elements. 4. Be sure there are enough Meet the Prophet note sheets for all of the students. INTRODUCING THE LESSON A real puzzle. Get out the container of puzzle pieces. Explain to the class that they will be doing an exercise as a whole group, and they must work in complete silence. As soon as the exercise begins, there are to be no comments or questions. Inform them that you will give all the instructions they need. Dump the puzzle pieces onto the floor and tell students to put the puzzle together as fast as they can. Pause for a moment, then ask them what things they need. Among the suggestions, listen for the following: Need to know which pieces are the real pieces for the puzzle. Need a picture of the finished product. 112

6 Need more time to do the exercise. There are too many people and no organization. Need someone who knows what s going on to give guidance and leadership. Explain that, in a similar way, the Israelites were told to rebuild the temple when they came back to Jerusalem. They had no clear picture of how the temple should be, no clear leadership and organization, and no particular guidelines, so they soon lost interest. It was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces were all different sizes and there was no photo provided of the finished product. This is when God sent some strong leaders. One of them was Haggai. LESSON STEPS 1. Give each student a photo of a finished craft or woodworking project. Ask them to reflect on how they would react if asked to make something just like the photo to be put on display. Could they make something this professional-looking on their first attempt? How would they feel if, instead of a photo, they were given a pencil drawing? Have them imagine they have just returned to Jerusalem and are given a vague idea of what the temple used to look like. They must rebuild the temple to be as beautiful as the old one, but they don t have the materials or the expertise the original builders had. How do they feel, knowing that their job will be judged by people in authority? 2. Give background on Haggai. Have students fill out their Meet the Prophet Haggai note sheets, giving them information from the answer key (p. 114) when needed. Remind students that they may also take notes and write questions in their Prophets Journals. Make sure students put the handouts from today in their journals. 3. Planning a worship service. Divide the class into four groups. Distribute the Consider Worship handouts so that one-half of each group receives the Physical Space side and one-half receives the Worship Elements side. Have students consider any worship experiences they have had, either in their own churches or at a youth convention, rally, camp, or elsewhere. Invite half of each group to think of what elements or parts of the worship made it so cool the kind of music, the speaker, drama, comedy, unusual elements not usually found in worship settings, etc. Invite the other half of each group to think of the physical space and what role that played in the experience they remember where the worship was held, inside or out, what the lighting was like, the sound system, the visual symbols, special sounds, etc. Then have each group put on paper the beginnings of a great worship service, plus the best place to have it. Each half will work separately at first. They are to work as though they were designing the perfect service and the perfect worship space. The sky is the limit. Ask each half to put down as specifically as possible what they would like to see. Hand out newsprint and markers to each group. They might express themselves better through drawing or sketching out some plans, or organizing the worship by color-coding certain parts. They may want to make preliminary notes and sketches on their handouts. 4. An awesome worship plan. Ask the two halves of each group to bring their projects together and meld them into one. As time allows, have each whole group present their plan for an absolutely awesome worship. Explain that this is what 113

7 Haggai had the Hebrew leaders do, in a much bigger way. He convinced some of them to build the temple, which was the perfect place for worship for the Hebrews, and he convinced the religious leaders to get worship back on track. EXTEND THE LESSON (This activity will extend the lesson to longer than 55 minutes.) Plan a worship. After asking for permission from the proper people, have the groups work together to plan and carry out an actual worship for chapel or an upcoming special school event. ANSWER KEY for Meet the Prophet Haggai: Prophet s name. What does this prophet s name mean? The name may mean festive or festival. Where did this prophet live? In Jerusalem When did this prophet live and who were the kings of his/her time? According to the book of Haggai, the prophet s work was concentrated between August 29 and December 18, 520 BCE. This was during the reign of the Persian king, Darius (Haggai 1:1, 15; 2:1, 10) and King Zerubbabel in Jerusalem. (Zerubbabel was governor before becoming king, Haggai 2:2; 2:23.) What did this person do before becoming a prophet? Little is known about Haggai. We do not know. To whom did this prophet speak? He spoke to the high priest, the governor (who would become king), and the Israelite people. What was the main message of this prophet? He shamed the people into considering construction on the temple. God had brought them to the Promised Land, had been with them through their history, and was with them now, ever faithful. Of course they should put priority on getting the temple built, in order to properly worship God. How did people respond to the message? People responded to Haggai immediately. It was one of the few times in all history when a prophet spoke God s words and the people quickly and unquestioningly obeyed. What did this prophet say that might be important for us today? The Jews seemed to have forgotten the point of returning from Babylon. They had built their own houses, but neglected God s house. How do we mistake our priorities today? What do we put first, before God? How can we remember to put God first in our lives? What questions do you have about this prophet? Answers will vary. 114

8 Consider Worship Physical Space Notes and Drawings 115

9 Consider Worship worship elements Notes and Drawings 116