1. Introduction
Some of the most well known quotations from the Bible come from the writings of a group of messengers who worked to call God's people to repentance during a time of national digression. Over time these warnings went unheeded and God allowed the nations of Israel and Judah to be overtaken by their enemies. In this video we'll examine the work of the Major Prophets.
2. The major prophets
There are five books in this group written by 4 prophets . These are referred to as the major prophets because their writings are longer in comparison to the minor prophets but are of equal importance. The exception to this is the book of Lamentations which is about 2000 words shorter than Hosea, one of the longer minor prophets. Lamentations is listed with this group since Jeremiah is the author. The work of these prophets became prominent during the period if the divided kingdom spanning the destruction of Jerusalem and Babylonian exile. These books are addressed to Israel and Judah as well as other nations that God would judge at a later time. Numerous references to Christ as the coming Messiah can be found in these writings laying a foundation for the identity of Jesus as the son of God. These books are:
Let's take a closer look at these books:
3. Isaiah
Isaiah is often referred to as the Messianic prophet due to the number of prophecies concerning Christ in the book. Isaiah delivered warnings to both the Northern and Southern kingdoms as well as other nations including Egypt and Assyria.
4. Jeremiah
Jeremiah spans the period prior to the fall of the Southern kingdom of Judah and afterwards. Warnings of the imminent judgment of God against the nation are made as well as statements about pagan powers outside of Judah. Jeremiah foretold of the seventy years of the Babylonian exile before a remnant would return. The prophet also describes the future law that would be given as well as changes in kingship and the priesthood which were fulfilled in Christ.
5. Lamentations of Jeremiah
Jeremiah wrote his lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Southern kingdom of Judah. He mourns the loss of the beauty of the nation due to spiritual neglect on the part of the Hebrews. Jeremiah's life was one of hardship earning him the designation of the weeping prophet.
6. Ezekiel
Ezekiel was taken to Babylon in one of the first groups of captives. His warnings were sent back to the inhabitants of Jerusalem who held out hope that they would be delivered from the destruction of the nation that had been prophesied. Ezekiel addresses other nations as well as the captives taken to Babylon. The book uses highly figurative language that is often misunderstood and misinterpreted.
7. Daniel
Daniel was one of the first of the captives to be taken from Judah to Babylon. Daniel, refusing to corrupt himself in Nebuchadnezzar's service seeks after God and is blessed with wisdom including the interpretation of dreams. Daniel's life spans the entire seventy years of the Babylonian exile. Some of the visions that he receives are concerning the end times and, like some parts of Ezekiel, are often misinterpreted.
8. Next
In the next video we will review The Minor Prophets