There is no surer protection against the speculative vagaries of religious visionaries than a clear knowledge of the historical context of Scripture. In view of the light they had received from God, they were even worse than the heathen, to whom they felt so much superior. This leaves Ezekiel with a ministry of at least 22 years, from 593/92 to 571/70. Hence the year 571/70 must not be considered as necessarily marking the end of his ministry. The chart allows both ideas, indicating his possible ministry during the two decades preceding 560 B.C. Yet many of the promises, particularly those concerning the giving of the gospel to the nations and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom, could not be fulfilled to them because of their unfaithfulness, but would be fulfilled to the church on earth preparatory to Christs return, particularly to Gods remnant people, and in the new earth. Isaiah lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. These observations seem to place Zephaniah in the early years of Josiahs reign, perhaps about 630 B.C., as a contemporary of Habakkuk. 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. They are called minor prophets because their books are less in size (these books are all very small and contain few The life of Christ is a perfect example of the character of God would have His people develop (see on Luke 2:52). 740-700 B.C. Thus Israel was to blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit (Isaiah 27:6). The transition from literal Israel to spiritual Israel, or the Christian church, is the subject of Romans 9-11. In Egypt, Jeremiah raised his voice against the idolatries the Jews practiced there (chapters 43; 44). Many messages and prophecies can be understood correctly only if seen against the background of the time in which the prophets ministered and in the light of the events that happened during their lives. 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. In spite of Israels ultimate failure, a limited knowledge of the true God and of the Messianic hope was widespread when the Saviour was born (see on Matthew 2:1). (This rule does not apply to those portions of the book of Daniel that the prophet was bidden to shut up and seal, or to other passages whose application Inspiration may have limited exclusively to our own time.). For these reasons Daniels extended prophetic ministry can be dated approximately from 603 to 535 B.C. by means of a broken line. By divine appointment the sacred writings were preserved, century after century, and Israel became their custodian (Amos 3:7; Romans 3:1, 2). This article surveys the fundamental problem of the interpretation of the prophetic portions of the Old Testament in terms of their message to Israel of old and to the church today. Hosea. A Nebuchadnezzar 59 Q If Jeremiah had been writing a novel, he would have been the hero of his own story. Uzziah was sole king over Judah from 767 to 750, and Jeroboam over Israel from 782 to 753. 2. Higher than the highest human thought can reach is Gods ideal for His children. Thus it had been with Enoch (Genesis 5:24), Abraham (chapter 26:5), and Joseph (chapter 39:2-6). Beholding Israels righteousness (Isaiah 62:1, 2), the Gentiles would acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed (Isaiah 61:9, 10; cf. Since the hostile acts of the heathen peoples committed against Judah (chapter 3:4 ff.) Examine the prophecy in its entirety. 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. WebBut the words of Isaiah live with the Jewish people to this day as fresh and as relevant as ever. Isaiah 2:2-4). WebJer 31:34. 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. Ch 2: Israel Forsakes God Ch 3:6 Unfaithful Israel Ch 4:5 Disaster From the North Ch 5: Not One Is Upright Ch 6: Jerusalem Under Siege Jer 11 - 12 2, 4 Ch 11: The Covenant Is Broken; Plot Against Nation after nation would come over (Isaiah 45:14), that is, be joined with and cleave to the house of Jacob (chapter 14:1). WebIt is the same message as Jeremiah's. WebJeremiah 15:1 Then the LORD said to me: "Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Eventually, all the nations would call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord and be gathered unto it, not to walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart (Jeremiah 3:17). Yet, since Gods purposes are immutable (Psalms 33:11; Prov. Godlinessgodlikenessis the goal to be reached. 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). Jer 31:35. WebISAIAH, DANIEL, AND ZECHARIAH We need to make a comparison between the three prophets, Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah, in two matters: in Gods economy toward His chosen people and in Christ for the people of His concern. 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. Tools. One of the main objectives of the Bible commentator is to reconstruct the historical setting in which the declarations of the prophets were originally made. National greatness. WebLast time you checked the cover of your family Bible, it probably didnt say The Bible, by God. since nearly all are named and credit given to a specific writer: the book of Isaiah to Isaiah, the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations to Jeremiah, the book of Ezekiel to Ezekiel, and so on. But the manner in which it is carried out may change because man may change. None of Judahs last four kings trusted in the Lord, so Jeremiahs ministry was rejected by all of them. 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). 3:5). 22 quart mirro pressure canner There is no god but He. Unparalleled prosperity. 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). A comparison between some of his prophecies and those of Amos indicates that Hosea was a younger contemporary of Amos (cf. The last part of the lecture turns to Second Isaiah and the famous servant songs that find a universal significance in 2. According to Jewish tradition Isaiah was sawn asunder. Dead sea scrolls. In the lives of Gods people the truths of His word are to reveal their glory and excellence. What archaeological evidence implies Isaiah was a unified book? The book of Haggai contains four addresses, each bearing a precise date giving the day, month, and year of Darius reign. The following discussion sets forth the principles of interpretation described under 5, and followed by this commentary, together with the scriptural basis on which these principles rest. Jeremiah lived afterwards during a time leading up to the carrying away of the southern two tribes of Judah into bondage in Babylon. Having begun his ministry in the time of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam II, king of Israel (chapter 1:1), Hosea continued until the time of Hezekiah, king of Judah (chapter 1:1). As individuals and as a nation God proposed to furnish the people of Israel with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on the earth (see Deuteronomy 4:6-8; 7:6, 14; 28:1; Jeremiah 33:9; Malachi 3:12). He probably died in the Nile country. 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. 3. Jeremiah has a slightly more commonplace experience, he just hears Gods voice directly tell him that before he was even formed in the womb he was appointed to be a prophet to the nations, no big deal. 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). 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. The glorious promises originally made to literal Israel are meeting their fulfillment today in the proclamation of the gospel to all men (Revelation 14:6, 7). The earth would thus be rid of those who opposed God (Zechariah 14:12, 13). He was sawed in half, Menessah killed him. 6465). They would gather themselves together and come from far (Isaiah 49:18, 12, 6, 8, 9, 22; Psalms 102:22). Note by whom it was spoken, to whom it was addressed, and the circumstances that called it forth. WebEzekiels use of dramatic prophetic signs, his rejection of collective divine punishment and assertion of individual responsibility are discussed. 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). WebIsaiah, the first of the prophets considered "major," had an active ministry that centered in Jerusalem. Thus. Gods promises are made conditional upon mans cooperation and obedience. Any idea that the return of the Jews to their ancestral home, that is, to the new state of Israel, may in any way be related to Bible prophecy is without valid scriptural foundation. At the same time, He permitted the heathen nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16), to furnish an example of what man can accomplish apart from Him. Under Nebuchadnezzars successors Daniels service seems not to have been desired. Daniel was taken to Babylon in 605 B.C., during the accession year of Nebuchadnezzar (see on chapter 1:1). Paul states the same truth in Romans 9:30, 31, where he makes it plain that the Christian church has replaced the Hebrew nation in the divine plan. Furthermore, the fact that the people of Tyre and Sidon do not appear as hostile nations of Judah until the last decades of its history, while they are mentioned by Joel as Judahs enemies, seems also to point to a late date for the prophets ministry. Matthew 19:16, 17; 22:36-40). The profound conviction that the messages of the prophets had been fulfilled led many to believe in Christ as the Son of God. 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. 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. They were to be far in advance of other nations in wisdom and understanding. But when the Jews rejected Christ there was no such assurance of reinstatement. 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. Gedaliah is made governor over the small group of Jews that remain in Jerusalem.