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

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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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nOkfIUxJJw&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=9

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—— Notes ——

Canonical Arrangement

• 5 Major Prophets

1. Isaiah
2. Jeremiah
3. Lamentations
4. Ezekiel
5. Daniel

• 12 Minor Prophets

1. Hosea
2. Joel
3. Amos
4. Obadiah
5. Jonah
6. Micah
7. Nahum
8. Habakkuk
9. Zephaniah
10. Haggai
11. Zechariah
12. 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)