Life after Solomon The prophets

Life after Solomon The prophets - Transcript

After the wisest king some not so wise kings
Israel splits into two parts Israel to the north Judah to the south

Both separate kingdoms ruled by a succession of

kings The majority of Israel s problems came from infighting between the two kingdoms

The divided kingdom From www bible ca



As the infighting increased the people of Israel turned away from God
Lived as if there were no reprecussions

Began to disregard the Commandments and Law





As a result God began to send a series of prophets to reconcile their relationship with God Note the difference in relationship



God dealt with the Israelites harshly
Noah s Ark Sodom and Gomorrah Moses first fiasco with the Ten Commandments

The Law and its harsh punishments Leviticus and

Deuteronomy



God dealt with the Israelites with Prophets and patience
David and Nathan loses his son but not his

kingdom Prophets give commentaries and reprimands to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah God lets the kingdoms of Israel and Judah do themselves in less direct intervention



Just to note here are Israel s rivals at the time of the prophets 6th Century BC
Egypt to the East Assyria and Babylonia in Mesopotamia The Kingdom of Judea was located in the perfect



These big hitters would eventually clash leading to the Babylonian captivity

location to clash with these groups



Prophets were called by God to foretell things to come NOT like modern day fortune tellers
God based conscious of God s authority

communicated God s message to God s people Were thought to be selfless and not prophetic for profit Prophets used their own individual style to convey God s message not exactly uniform in delivery



Prophetic Literature

Heavy on the anthologies metaphors sayings

sermons and figures of speech Anticipatory Books are named after the prophet Articulated judgment and tough choices for Israel
Encouraged them to do the right thing They rarely did at least for long



Constantly tried to reconcile Israel with God

Israelites would suffer hardship after waywardness



All the prophets though said differently have a common theme of unity and accountability with God
to send their message to Israel we re all brothers

and prophets would encourage them to return to their godly ways

Relied upon a common history religion and customs



A Common vision and message pg 123

God as the sole authority They lived out a single minded commitment to

challenge the Israelites to live in right relationship with God They served a jealous God who called for justice They sought to guide the Israelites back to God who awaited their return with open arms They modeled and publicly announced God s call to be faithful They sought God s compassion for themselves and for his people



Not from Northern Israel but used the words you and we when speaking to the Israelites Spoke in herding terms denoting his profession Reiterated God s jealous nature and judgment of Israel
Jealous of their wayward worship of God to other



Reminded the Israelites of their Covenant with God

idols and money



Spoke that divine justice and righteousness would prevail Was trusted by the people they related to his profession and common ways Focused on the disparity of wealth in Israel Warned how the rich were abusing their power





8th Century BC prophet who delivered his message to Northern Israel used the term we often At the time Northern Israel was at war with the Assyrians Identified with Israel because he was a member of their community



Accuses both kingdoms of looking toward Assyria and Egypt instead of God Condemned Israel for worshiping a neighboring God Baal

I will remove the names of the Baals from her



Prophesies that they will lose their land because of their infidelity toward God

mouth and they shall be mentioned by name no more Hosea 2 17



Most prophets used allegory to explain God s relationship with Israel Hosea uses marital allegory
God s love and Israel s betrayal unfaithful acts Alludes to a divorce procedure She is not my wife nor I her husband Hosea 2 2



Hosea uses his unfaithful wife Gomer as an example of Israel s idolatry and abuse of the poor
She eventually returns to Hosea after repentance



Hosea s message was given after the destruction of Israel Much more consoling than Amos Directed to the ordinary and priests alike Chastised the priests for taking sinners money and profiting Talked about God s love and care
A kinder gentler God



Elijah a prophet in the Northern Kingdom during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah
869 849 BC Ahab was a powerful king who expanded

Samaria then Isreal s capital
Also fought Assyria

Ahab looked to Baal the ancient Canaanite


Elijah s prophecies would deal with Ahab and Baal

storm god for rain Wrong move





The people of Israel were split with half worshiping God and the other half worshiping Baal Baal had been around
East for centuries

Permeated ancient life in the Middle and Near
The Semetic word Baal lord owner and husband were synonomous

Had several incarnations and idols



Elijah orchestrated a publish showdown between God and Baal at God s behest 1 Kings 18 31 39

Focused on fire a supposed strength of Baal Elijah had chosen a priest for the sacrifice showdown Bulls were used to atone for the sins of priests underlining the fact that what was about to happen was the pure power of God not the priest Elijah Elijah also chose 12 stones for the alter for the 12 tribes



Elijah doused the alter with water three times
Used saltwater salt was symbolic because it



King Ahab had heard of the showdown became very impressed
Told his wife Jezebel who was not

preserved food sustained livestock was medication and a symbol of fidelity Salt represented the priest s own self being surrendered in the sacrifice



Jezebel became furious when she learned of Elijah s actions Elijah fearing death and not trusting God ran
Jezebel was a devout worshiper of Baal Threatened Elijah s life



Elijah ran to Mount Sinai God began to tend to the needs of Elijah in hiding First by Angels then through the word of God God s self Go never condemned Elijah for hiding speaking to him in sheer silence Elijah eventually shed his fear and returned to

prophesying



Notable miracles of Elijah pg 129
Elijah received food from a raven Elijah multiplied a poor widow s pantry Elijah raised a child from the dead Elijah caused a king s soldiers to be consumed

by fire Elijah parted the Jordan river Elijah rode to heaven in a flaming chariot



Elisha

A youthful prophet who replaced Elijah as Israel s

oracle Was the apprentice of Elijah but had a different style
When asked by Elijah what he wanted as Elijah
Elijah fought evil Elisha inspired good

was leaving Elisha replied

let me inherit a double share of your spirit 2 Kings 2 9