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The Major Prophets

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Watch Week Four: Old Testament: Major and Minor Prophets

This week, we are going to look at the last category of Old Testament books: the prophets. Each prophet is widely accepted as the author of the book named after him. The specific role of the prophets was to call Israel to repentance when they sinned. The prophets warned God’s people of judgment if they didn’t stop turning their back on God, all while reminding them that God will extend them mercy and hope and future restoration.

Today, let’s look at an overview of the books that make up the major prophets:

isaiah

From this book, we learn that Isaiah was married and had two sons (Isaiah 7:3, 8:3). Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC during the reign of four kings of Judah—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. By the time he started prophesying, the people of Judah were worshipping God on the surface, but inwardly they had abandoned their faith. Through Isaiah, God prophesied a series of judgments to turn the heart of his people back to himself, as well as predictions about the future savior of Israel. Of all of the Old Testament books, Isaiah gives the clearest picture of the future Messiah’s birth (7:14) and his death (52:13–53:12).

jeremiah and lamentations

Jeremiah’s ministry began in 627 BC and lasted until around 582 BC. His prophecies included the prediction of the Babylonian captivity, during which the Jews would be carried to Babylon as exiles because of their rebellion against God (Jeremiah 25). In spite of this, God promised to return them to the land and to give them a good future. That future included a time when God would make a new covenant with the nation in which his laws would be written on their hearts (Hebrews 8:10–12). In addition to the book that bears his name, Jeremiah also likely wrote Lamentations. In Lamentations, the author wept over the city of Jerusalem, which had been invaded in 586 BC. Deeply anguished, he lamented over Judah’s sin that resulted in the destruction of its land. In the midst of his sorrow, the author still expressed hope in a faithful God whose mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).

ezekiel

Ezekiel prophesied during Judah’s exile in Babylon and lived in Tel-Abib, nearly one hundred miles south of Babylon. Many of Ezekiel’s prophecies concerned judgment for the sins that God’s people had committed as well as judgment against the nation’s enemies. The latter half of Ezekiel includes prophecies of Judah’s restoration and the return of God’s glory among his people.

daniel

Like Ezekiel, Daniel also lived in Babylon during the Jews’ exile. Daniel can be divided into two sections. The first section is narrative, recounting the encounters of Daniel and his three friends with the powerful kings of Babylon, Media, and Persia (Daniel 1–6). The second half of the book contains visions of the future, as it relates to Israel and the world (Daniel 7–12).

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Daily Question

God used prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel to deliver messages of warning, comfort, hope, and restoration to his people. In what ways does God communicate with you?

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Comments (10)

I have heard God speak to me clearly at times and found comfort, guidance and hope in difficult and sometimes yet to come situations. I have also heard from others…His children who have shared a word of hope especially from God and for me and have been blessed. But truly I must add that I have heard from God so often through His word [both read and spoken in sermons] that continues to guide and direct my life in amazing ways. There is no way I could overestimate the gift of opening God’s word and receiving a "right now" message whose timing is beyond earthly comprehension.

He communicates to me through prayer and answered requests, no matter what that answer may be. He uses others to talk to me, example my Pastor every weekend in church. I need to learn to sit still and hear Him in my most hectic times.

His Word- but also worship music. In prayer, and also in everyday encounters and conversations with others. By answering prayers, whether it be a "yes" "no" or "not now", I love hearing His answers and seeing what His plan has in store for me through each day I have.

His Word- but also worship music. In prayer, and also in everyday encounters and conversations with others. By answering prayers, whether it be a "yes" "no" or "not now", I love hearing His answers and seeing what His plan has in store for me through each day I have.

He communicates with me through impressions in my heart and a prompting by His spirit leading me in the way I should go. When I allow myself to be quiet, He does speak to me, I always try to write those words in my journal.

for me personally God communicates with me in everyday life. there’s times when I feel conviction about certain things and I know that’s the holy Spirit prompting me to make a change. I know this part sounds kind of crazy but sometimes when I’m having a bad day I can just find little inklings of God’s love for me all around me whether it be in a beautiful sky and a pretty flower that I see the right worship song that comes on just something comes to me and I know that it’s from my father

I talk to God every single day,on good days and days when I’m ready to run for the hills. He surprises me with little blessings and some I’m not expecting at all,through my actions, people speaking to me in general, he’s right there showing me what he has to say.

God communicates to me through my daily devotions reading the Bible praying and singing songs of worship. He also communicates through nature as well. I am so happy that I don’t have to do those sacrifices like in the old testament. I am so happy that Jesus came and sacrificed His life and was buried and rose again the third day.

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