In Gods Economy toward His Chosen People 1. Prophecies that Inspiration clearly applies to our day were designed of God to inspire us with patience, comfort, and the hope that all things foretold by these holy men of old will soon meet their final and complete fulfillment. To this can be added the mention of Greeks (chapter 3:6), who hardly played a role in Near Eastern history earlier than the 7th century. God designed that Israels experience should prove to be a warning to Judah (see Hosea 1:7; 4:15-17; 11:12; Jeremiah 3:3-12; etc.). The accompanying chart enables the reader to study these prophets in their historical setting. The success of Israel was to be based on and to include: 1. WebWhat are the common divisions of Isaiah made by contemporary scholars? In fact, this procedure is responsible more than anything else for the fanciful interpretations that distinguish the teachings of certain religious groups. It was to be the result of wholehearted cooperation with the will of God as revealed through the prophets, and of divine blessing added to human efforts. Few passages of Scripture are more commonly misunderstood and variously interpreted than those containing the divine promises made to ancient Israel through the prophets. What archaeological evidence implies Isaiah was a unified book? In view of the light they had received from God, they were even worse than the heathen, to whom they felt so much superior. It is impossible to date the devastating plague of locusts that the prophet so vividly describes and compares with the terrors of the coming day of judgment. From the visible their minds were to be directed to the invisible, from the seen to the unseen, from the material to the spiritual, from the temporal to the eternal. His book contains no direct to establish the time of his mission to Nineveh. The people might approach God personally and through the ministry of a mediating priesthood, their representatives before Him; He would direct the nation through the ministry of prophets, His appointed representatives to them. God placed His people in Palestine, the crossroads of the ancient world, and provided them with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on the face of the earth. The house of God in Jerusalem would eventually be called an house of prayer for all people (chapter 56:7), and many people and strong nations would come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before Him in that day and be His people (Zechariah 8:22; 2:11). No chronological data are given, but the prophet speaks of the fall of No (chapter 3:8) as an event of the past. This call came to him in the 13th year of King Josiah (chapters 1:2; 25:3), about 627. For some time he held a high position in Nebuchadnezzars government (chapter 2:48), and became a trusted counselor of the great king. As the numbers of Israel increased, they were to enlarge their borders, until their kingdom should embrace the world (cf. See Deuteronomy 7:13; 28:2-8; Malachi 3:8-11. Their own characters were to be progressively ennobled and elevated, and to reflect more and more perfectly the attributes of the perfect character of God (Deuteronomy 4:9; 28:1, 13, 14; 30:9, 10). This Upper Egyptian capital city, better known by its Greek name Thebes, was destroyed by King Ashurbanipal in 663 B.C., a date that provides the upper time limit of Nahums prophecy. This division, though tragic, served to insulate, for a time, the southern kingdom, Judah, from the tide of idolatry that soon engulfed the northern kingdom, Israel (see Hosea 4:17). It is possible that he worked much longer, as part of chapters 9-14 may have been given at a much later time. Unparalleled prosperity. The Temple was apparently rebuilt, and sacrifices were regularly offered at the time of the prophets activity (chapter 1:7-10). What Is the Significance of the Interjection Aha? Discover what application later inspired writers make of the prophecy, and on this basis determine its possible significance for Gods people in this time. Through Israel of old, God planned to provide the nations of earth with a living revelation of His own holy character and an exhibit of the glorious heights to which man can attain by cooperating with His infinite purposes. Ninevehs destruction, which came in 612, is referred to as a future event, indicating that Zephaniahs work preceded this date. The chart allows both ideas, indicating his possible ministry during the two decades preceding 560 B.C. WebBefore we begin our review of the parts of Jeremiahs early ministry, let us first set out the usual and customary picture of it. 6465). Far from becoming the light of the world, the Jews shut themselves away from the world as a safeguard against being seduced into idolatry (see Deuteronomy 11:26, 27; cf. Desiring the same blessings for themselves, they would make inquiry as to how they too might acquire these obvious material advantages. I will call them my people, which were not my people (Romans 9:25, 26). Nations that had known nothing of the true God would run to Jerusalem because of the manifest evidence of divine blessing that attended Israel (chapter 55:5). Godlinessgodlikenessis the goal to be reached. But it is only against the background of the original historical context of the message that its meaning and value for us can be established with certainty. The Hebrew people were to acquire wisdom and skill in all cunning work, that is, a high degree of inventive genius and ability as artisans, for the manufacture of all kinds of utensils and mechanical devices. Through His people Christ is to manifest His character and the principles of His kingdom. Many years later, in writing to the strangers, or Gentiles (1 Peter 1:1: see on Exodus 12:19, 43), as the elect of God (1 Peter 1:2), Peter refers to them as the chosen ones of God, a holy nation, a peculiar people (chapter 2:9), formerly not a people, but now the people of God (verse 10). Revelation 17:13, 14, 17). The promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional. The following simple rules are suggested as a safe approach to the study of each prophetic passage of the Old Testament: 1. WebIt is the same message as Jeremiah's. He played an important role during two momentous periods: (1) under Ahaz, during the war between Syria and Israel (chapters 7-11), and (2) under Hezekiah, during a siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib chapters 36; 37). It ran from the last year Judah's King Uzziah ruled (740 B.C. Yet the book contains no clear indication of the time in which the prophet lived. The Book of Isaiah claims to be written by him, and scholars believe he at least wrote part of it. What archaeological evidence implies Isaiah was a unified book? Paul makes it clear beyond argument that when he speaks of Israel as the chosen people of God he means it in this sense. Gods word is sure (Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Romans 11:29), and His plan for the salvation of man will ultimately prevail (Isaiah 46:10). Yet in mercy, God still bore with His people, and in due time Messiah came (Malachi 3:1-3). The last part of the lecture turns to Second Isaiah and the famous servant songs that find a universal significance in They grasped at the material blessings so generously offered them, but refused the spiritual graces that would have transformed their lives and fitted them to be His representatives. Technical know-how would render products made in Israel superior to all others. We should never forget that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for the learning of future generations to the end of time, to inspire patience, comfort, and hope (Romans 15:4). Returning to their homelands, the Gentile ambassadors would counsel their fellow countrymen, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord (Zechariah 8:21, 22; cf. He was therefore a somewhat younger contemporary of Isaiah, to whose vocabulary and terminology his prophecies show great similarity (Micah 4:1-4; cf. Accordingly, the covenant promises and privileges were all permanently transferred from literal to spiritual Israel (Romans 9:4; cf. Jeremiah 32:17 highlights this point by stating, "O Sovereign Lord! All rights reserved. All men would recognize that Israel stood in a special relationship to the God of heaven (Deuteronomy 7:6-14; 28:10; Jeremiah 16:20, 21). In that day every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 14:16; cf. All Israel consists of both Jews and Gentiles, thus all Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:25, 26). But, said the angel, Messiah would be rejected and cut off, because of the abominations of Israel, and Jerusalem and the Temple would once more life waste (verses 26, 27). He states that he ministered under King Josiah (chapter 1:1), who reigned from 640 to 609 B.C. Encouraging Hezekiah and the people through his own trust in God, he was instrumental in saving Jerusalem. Had Jerusalem known what it was her privilege to know, and heeded the light that Heaven sent her, she would have stood forth in magnificent prosperity, the queen of kingdoms, the mighty metropolis of the earth, and would, like a noble vine, have filled the face of the world with fruit (Isaiah 27:6). That some of the words he uses are also found in Jeremiah (Obadiah 1, 3, 4; cf. He probably died in the Nile country. This concept of the role of Israel is reiterated again and again throughout the Old Testament. Answer Isaiah's opening statement in the Book of Isaiah, that he lived during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, means that he actually lived in the eighth century BCE. For instance, the prophecy of the battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38, 39 was never fulfilled to literal Israel; but John the revelator assures us that in principle, though not necessarily in all details (such as those of Ezekiel 39:9-15), this battle will occur at the close of the millennium (Revelation 20:7-9). Thus, for more than 1,500 years, a great experiment designed to test the relative merits of good and evil was conducted before the world. Discover what the message meant to the people of that time. The kingdom was overturned (Ezekiel 21:25-32) and the people removed from the land, which had been theirs only by virtue of the covenant relationship (Hosea 9:3, 15, Micah 2:10; cf. The blessings of health. Jeremiah 1:7 But the LORD told me: "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' However, all his messages were addressed to the northern nation. It was Gods design that the whole earth be prepared for the first advent of Christ, even as to-day the way is preparing for His second coming. Yet, since Gods purposes are immutable (Psalms 33:11; Prov. Ezekiel blames the people for ritual misbehavior. His word endureth for ever (1 Peter 1:25). This fact weakens the arguments for such a late date. Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, God warned them not to forget that the blessings they were to enjoy there if they cooperated with Him would come as divine gifts (see Deuteronomy 8:7-14), not primarily as the result of their own wisdom and skill (verses 17-19). See Exodus 31:2-6; 35:33, 35. Not only is Malachi last in the sequential order of the prophets; it is also the last prophetic book produced in pre-Christian times. chapter 9:7; Isaiah 66:23). Jeremiah 22:26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another land, where neither of you were born--and there you both will die. Those nations that rejected the worship and service of the true God, were to be dispossessed, and Israel would inherit the Gentiles chapter (54:3). God did not forsake His people, even during the Captivity. Dead sea scrolls. 1 Peter 2:6-8; 1 Corinthians 1:23) but this need not mean that they are to fallGod forbid, he exclaims (Romans 11:1, 22). JEREMIAH WebJeremiah was active as a prophet from the thirteenth year of Josiah, king of Judah (626 BC), until after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon's Temple in 587 BC. Remember thatgenerally speakingit was originally given with respect to the historical circumstances that called it forth. Both of these extreme methods wrest the obvious intent of the Scriptures and render a sound understanding of the messages of the prophets for the church today unattainable. His call came to him sometime in October/November, 520 B.C., in the same year as Haggais first appearance (chapter 1:1). Captivity, he said, had confirmed the curse that came because of disobedience (verses 11, 12) and Jerusalem lay desolate (verses 16-19). WebThese chapters in Ezekiel are similar to those in Isaiah and Jeremiah where prophetic burdens are pronounced on certain foreign nations (see Isaiah 1323; Jeremiah 4651). To pray by faith for God to fulfill His promises, we must be obedient to Gods difficult commands. WebIsaiah was a prophet of the southern kingdom, living in a critical period of his nation. It was Gods design that the whole earth be prepared for the first advent of Christ, even as to-day the way is preparing for His second coming. Weblived and were active as prophets during a time of great catastrophe for the people of Israel, the conquest of Judah and the destruction of the First Tem-ple. Had Judah remained loyal to God its captivity would not have been necessary. A comparison between some of his prophecies and those of Amos indicates that Hosea was a younger contemporary of Amos (cf. Literal Jews may still find salvation by being grafted into spiritual Israel, in precisely the same way that Gentiles are to be grafted in (verses 23, 24). No, there were three prophets of God who followed Isaiah. Copyright 2008 - http://www.BibleChronologyTimeline.com. Promises not already fulfilled to literal Israel either would never be fulfilled at all or would be fulfilled to the Christian church as spiritual Israel. When the siege of Jerusalem was temporarily lifted at the approach of an Egyptian force, Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of the tribe of Benjamin. For two of them (Joel and Obadiah), however, no conclusive evidence as to the time of their work exists, and scholars differ widely in their views concerning this matter. But here, as in all exposition of Scripture, we should avoid affirming as the explicit teachings of the Bible that which is our private, finite view, however plausible it may appear to be. 2. It is possible that Hebrews 11:37 refers to this event. In so doing we shall be secure against the fanciful explanations sometimes given certain Old Testament prophecies. Furthermore, it should be remembered that the Messiah, after the flesh, was a Jew, that the charter members of the Christian church were all Jews, and that Christianity grew out of Judaism. Instead of becoming light bearers to the world they absorbed its darkness and reflected that darkness instead. The prophet Ezekiel, a priest, was one of the 10,000 Jews taken into exile by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C., when King Jehoiachin was carried to Babylon. 1 Kings 8:41-43). Aha was used as an expression of malicious joy. Since Josiah came to the throne as a child, he must have lived under a regent, which explains why no king is mentioned by Joel. When Gedaliah is assassinated, the Jews flee to Egypt and force Jeremiah to go with them. This would make Isaiah first cousin to King Uzziah and grandson to They interpreted prophecy in accordance with their selfish desires, because their ambitious hopes were fixed on worldly greatness. The consecutive order of the book of Haggai would indicate that his whole recorded ministry lasted not longer than 31/2 months, beginning (chapter 1:1) on August 29, 520 B.C., and extending, in his last two recorded speeches (chapter 2:10, 20), to December 18, 520. Emphasize to the children that the people at the time did not believe Isaiah. Thus Israel was to blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit (Isaiah 27:6). Holiness of character (Levites 19:2; see on Matthew 5:48). Even to the time of the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiahs message remained the same: submit to the yoke of Babylonia. 1-39 40-55 56-66. They would gather themselves together and come from far (Isaiah 49:18, 12, 6, 8, 9, 22; Psalms 102:22). Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following: You may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal use only. You may not distribute or commercially use the content on any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system. Jeremiah 49:14, 16), and Joel (Obadiah 15, 17; cf. 3:5). At the time of Isaiahs ministry, Judah was a sinful and unjust nation. Isaiah is reminded who the real king is. During the siege, reprobate Israelites would be slain by their foes (Zechariah 13:8; 14:2). Now it is spiritual Israel, in the past not a people but now the people of God, that are to shew forth the praises of the One who has called them out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9, 10). It was probably at this time, when Daniel was nearly 90 years of age, that he was commanded to conclude his book and seal it up (chapter 12:4, 13). Nothing is known of the prophet Joel beyond the fact that he was the son of Pethuel (chapter 1:1). In the prophetic picture God is represented as gathering the nations to Jerusalem (Joel 3:1, 2; Zephaniah 3:6-8; cf. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, however, did. Remember that the record of Gods dealings with His people in ages past has been recorded for the benefit of all later generations to the end of time. The Bible contains more information about his life and times than any other prophet. What is fascinating is that the prophets Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were all contemporaries. A. It was their unwillingness to submit to the restrictions and requirements of God that prevented them, to a great extent, from reaching the high standard which He desired them to attain, and from receiving the blessings which He was ready to bestow upon them. According to tradition, how was Isaiah killed? It is true, he says, that national Israel stumbled at the stumblingstone, Jesus Christ (Romans 9:32, 33; 11:11; cf. Unparalleled prosperity, both temporal and spiritual, was promised them as the reward for putting into practice the righteous and wise principles of heaven (Deuteronomy 4:6-9; 7:12-15; 28:1-14). Its messages show that it was written after the time of the kingdom of Judah, when a governor ruled over the country (chapter 1:8), a fact that points to the Persian period. Again and again He had warned His people that captivity would be the result of disobedience (see Deuteronomy 4:9; 8:9; 28:1, 2, 14, 18; Jeremiah 18:7-10; 26:2-16; Zechariah 6:15; etc.). Numbers 14:26-34. Zephaniah 1:17 If the nation had been faithful to its trust and had appreciated the high destiny reserved for it by God, the whole earth would have awaited the coming of the Messiah with eager expectancy. EZEKIEL is born Josiah tries to purify the land 612 Ninevah destroyed according to Nahum's prophecy in the Book of Nahum 1:1-3:19 as prophecied in 663-654BC. Any interpretation that fails to give these matters due consideration does violence to the Scriptures. did Isaiah primarily live? They would send messengers to Israel with the declaration, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you (Zechariah 8:23). Ambassadors from one foreign country after another would come to discover, if they might, the great secret of Israels success as a nation, and its leaders would have the opportunity of directing the minds of their visitors to the Source of all good things. 7. Peter concurs, saying, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, for in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him (Acts 10:34, 35; cf. Isaiah was best known as the Hebrew prophet who predicted the coming of Jesus Christ to salvage mankind from sin. This situation fits best the time prior to the rise of the Chaldean Empire under Nabopolassar, who began to reign in 626/25 B.C., and who, with the Medes, was responsible for the destruction of Assyria. A Nebuchadnezzar 59 Q In spite of the bold and zealous efforts of such prophets as Elijah, Elisha, Amos, and Hosea, the northern kingdom rapidly deteriorated and was eventually carried into Assyrian captivity. Scholars differ widely in their views concerning the time of Joels ministry. They forfeited Gods blessing because of failure to fulfill His purpose in making them His chosen people, and thus brought ruin upon themselves. Accordingly, what He purposed to do for the world through Israel of old He will finally accomplish through His church on earth today, and many of the promises originally made to literal Israel will be fulfilled to His remnant people at the close of time. The fundamental principle by which we can tell unerringly when any particular promise or prediction of the Old Testament made originally to literal Israel is to meet its fulfillment with respect to spiritual Israel iswhen a later inspired writer makes such an application of it. WebIsaiah 65:12 I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight." The establishment of the Hebrew monarchy did not affect the basic principles of the theocracy (Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 8:7). To their own question, What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them? the Gentiles would answer, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people (Deuteronomy 4:7, 6). WebA radical reinterpretation of the biblical prophets by one of America's most provocative critics reveals the eternal beauty of their language and the enduring resonance of their message. Seventh-day Adventists believe that, generally speaking, the promises and predictions given through the Old Testament prophets originally applied to literal Israel and were to have been fulfilled to them on the condition that they obey God and remain loyal to Him. Continued obedience was necessary to the continuance of divine favor, whereas persistent disobedience must inevitably culminate in the rejection of the Jewish nation as Gods chosen instrument for carrying out the divine plan (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The prophets thus provided a firm foundation for the faith of the apostolic church and made a direct and vital contribution to the Christian faith. Henceforth, he says, there is no difference between Jew and Greek (chapter 10:12, 13). This period spanned the reigns of five kings of Judah: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. But the Scriptures record the fact that they disobeyed God and proved disloyal to Him instead. However, these messages pertaining to the then-distant future were intended, not only to inspire patience, comfort, and hope in the day they were first given, but also to provide men of Christs day with confirming evidence of His Messiahship. Isaiah was the great forerunner of the writers. Yet not WebBut the words of Isaiah live with the Jewish people to this day as fresh and as relevant as ever. 6. They rejected the Light of the world, and henceforth their lives were surrounded with darkness as the darkness of midnight. 3. For these reasons the 7th-century date for Joel has been adopted in this commentary, although there is no conclusive proof that this choice is correct. In Abraham God found a man ready to yield unqualified obedience to the divine will (Genesis 26:5; Hebrews 11:8) and to cultivate a similar spirit in his posterity (Genesis 18:19).