Week of June 4: Old Testament: Neviim–Who were the prophets?
Introduction
(Maria & Val)
What was the role of the prophets?
The prophetic books in the Bible are usually broken up into two categories:
1. The “Former” Prophets (Nevi'im Rishonim), which include the books Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. These books deal with Israel’s history and rule.
2. The “Latter” Prophets (Nevi’im Akharonim), which consist of the books Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets. These writings deal more directly with Israel in exile.
The overall purpose of the prophets was to take God’s messages to the people of Israel. These messages came in various forms: some called the people to repentance, some warned of punishment to come due to the people’s ongoing disobedience, some were sent to remind the people that they were not alone and that God would fight for them, and some messages told of the coming Messiah and the hope of Israel. Whatever the message they brought, the prophets were an important part of God’s communication with his people and a way to help them know him better.
Monday, June 5
(Maria)
Have you watched the old movie The Jungle Book? In the movie, Colonel Hathi’s son Junior is worried about what is going to happen to Mowgli. As he frets, Colonel Hathi tells him, “Now, don’t you worry, son. Your father had a plan in mind all the time.” As I think of the passage from Jeremiah, I like to remember that line. I feel good that the commanding father knows what he’s talking about. (In the movie, Hathi didn’t really, but he put up a good image.) As a parent, sometimes when our kids want to know what we’re doing or what the plan is, my husband and I often tell them, “Don’t worry about it.” We say this because we have a plan in place, and we think it’s a good plan. We just want our kids to be patient and wait and see.
My point is this, as Christians, we can go about our lives being very self-serving. Sometimes we do things in Jesus’ name or in the name of Christianity, appearing to be righteous.
But have we really sought the Father’s will in what we are doing?
Have we referenced scripture and really paid attention to His instructions?
If God has plans for us, that are good and not evil, then perhaps we should be paying strong attention and “lean not on our understanding” about His plans. Let’s humbly go to God in prayer and let our choices be steeped in His authority and direction. Perhaps that is part of the message of the prophets. Quit chasing after the things that you want, quit complaining about the way things are, redirect your attention and let God be the one in charge.
Are we seeking God’s plan?
Are we leaning on him, or our own understanding?
Are we allowing him to direct our paths?
How do we know what God’s plan is?
We can check to see if what we are doing aligns with scripture. We can check and see if it aligns with the things that God is about. In the passage from Micah we are told, “What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”
Are you actively seeking justice in your life and in your actions? The Lord requires this.
Do you love mercy? How are you treating others? What are the actions of a person who loves mercy?
Is your life a humble reflection of a God-directed life? Or are you pushing to the front of the line, demanding, taking what you want, and seeking to be heard? How would that look different if you were taking God directed steps?
Tuesday, June 6
(Maria)
Being a prophet does not seem like a glitzy or ‘fun’ job. If anything, it was pretty thankless and an often risky. Today’s example doesn’t highlight the benefits of being a prophet for a career choice, but it does highlight God’s gracious love for us.
The story of Hosea is one that makes me cringe. It’s a painful story of a man who was told to marry a woman who would be unfaithful to him. He knew from the outset this was going to happen and happen it did! And the pain and tragedy didn’t end there. The children Hosea had with his wife, Gomer, were named horrible names with horrible meanings. Imagine being named ‘Not loved’ or ‘Not my people’. On Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, love and belonging are essential, primal needs. I think this shows the generational impact of sin and our separation from God. If you have time, read (at least) the first three chapters of Hosea to capture the striking imagery and severity of the waywardness of Israel.
In the story of the woman at the well, we know there were religious differences between the Samaritans and the Jews. Interestingly, this can be traced back to the time of the prophets when the Northern Israelites were exiled to Assyria. The Israelites who remained intermarried with the Assyrians who “moved in.” Their descendants came to be known as Samaritans. Over time, Jewish religious tradition mixed with Assyrian religious tradition and strayed from its roots. I think this story is such a beautiful illustration of God’s wayward people being beckoned back. It also reflects God’s deep, intimate, and personal love for us seen through Jesus’ interaction with the woman.
In Hosea, and in Jesus’ interaction, we see a continued rhythm and legacy of God always offering hope and desiring reconciliation.
What attitude does God’s offering of reconciliation and hope stir in you?
What does it lead you to do in regards to how you view and treat others?
Wednesday, June 7
(Maria)
Today we looked at the story of the reluctant prophet, Jonah. Can I say that I find the story of Jonah refreshing?
So many of the books of the prophets are repetitious. Because we are stubborn, the same lessons have to be repeated over and over. We just don’t get the message. We don’t see history repeating itself over and over.
Jonah provides a nice break and contrast in the midst of so much of the same, while still imparting important information about our attitudes and who God is and what He is about.
“But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah…” (Jonah 1:17) This had to be funny. Did Jonah think that by being thrown into the sea he’d get out of his situation? Talk about avoidance. Also, he didn’t jump into the sea, he passively told the crew to throw him in. I think God may have found this to be humorous. Jonah was like a three-year-old who packs his bag and thinks he’s going to move out and live on a package of Oreos. It’s just not going to work. It took sitting in the fish for Jonah to start talking to God about his situation.
“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord.” Sigh. How typical. The problem with the Jonah story is that I see myself in it. Sometimes it does take a desperate situation for me to call out to God and remember him. I’m the one who makes things hard on myself.
Thankfully, time after time, God is “a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 4:2)
What kind of prophet would you be?
Would you be like Hosea who obediently does what God tells him to do?
Or would you dig your heels in and be angry like Jonah?
Make a list of the attributes of God.
What is revealed about God in the prophets?
How does that make you look at God?
What impact does that have on your daily living?
Thursday, June 8
(Val)
There were various prophets in the Old Testament whose role was simply to speak to the people of Israel (and sometimes others) on God’s behalf. This was how God chose to communicate with his people. These chosen prophets were important to the safety, guidance, and leadership of Israel. On rare occasion, the prophets were honored and well-received. Most of the time their very lives were at stake as their God-given messages were received with fear and anger. Even Jesus had to deal with this. In Matthew 13:57, we find an example of this: “But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.’” Yet, over and over again, the prophets faithfully carried the Word of God to the people, whether it was good news or not, and faced the consequences their messages produced. For me personally, I love the story of Elijah. He was chosen to speak for God during a difficult time in Israel. He was often in trouble for the messages he delivered. Over the next three days, we will be reading about Elijah and digging into his story a little deeper.
In this passage, God called Elijah to go to Ahab, the king of Israel, and tell him there would be a severe drought due to Ahab’s sin and rebellion against God. For example, he married Jezebel, the daughter of a foreign king, and introduced her idols and religious practices to the people of Israel which violated God’s command to have no other gods before him. Knowing Ahab would try to punish Elijah, God protected Elijah and sent him to a safe place, where he provided for his needs. When that place was no longer able to sustain Elijah, God sent him to a widow, where he not only supplied Elijah’s needs, but also provided miraculously for the widow and her son. In this chapter, Elijah doesn’t question God, he just does what he is instructed to do.
What does God teach us about trusting him through this part of Elijah’s story?
If I were in Elijah’s shoes, I wonder if I would have willingly gone into the wilderness, trusting that God would supply all my needs. I mean, living next to a river for water and being brought food by ravens sounds a little iffy to me. Yet, that is exactly what Elijah did and God faithfully provided. God’s provision for his people is a recurring theme throughout the Bible.
I love the passage in Matthew and how the image of God’s provision is so simple yet packed with a powerful message. Since we have so many examples of God fulfilling his promise to provide for the needs of his beloved, why do we worry so much about our own survival?
What keeps us from trusting God for everything we need?
Friday, June 9
(Val)
When I was a child, I loved the exciting story of how Elijah faced down the prophets of Baal and proved that the God of Israel was the one true God. I especially loved verses 27-29 when Elijah taunts the prophets of Baal and acts snarky as they unsuccessfully beg Baal to send fire from heaven. He is one man facing off with 450 prophets of Baal in front of a king who thinks of him as an enemy and troublemaker and blames him for the drought that has damaged his kingdom, yet he has no qualms about loudly taunting and making fun of their god. The part where Elijah calls for gallons and gallons of water to be poured on his altar to God, soaking the wood, the sacrifice, and all around it, and then calls fire down from heaven still gives me goosebumps. I love the image of the fire licking up the water–showing nothing can overcome our God!
Elijah knew God would be faithful to reveal his power and authority. Is there a place in your life you need to see the power of God revealed mightily?
What seems to be standing in your way?
What might you need to do to remove any obstacles to believing God will come through for you?
Elijah was bold in this chapter. First, he faced Ahab, who had combed the land to find him and kill him. Second, he was completely outnumbered by the prophets of Baal, but never showed any fear or doubt.
How can we have that same boldness to follow God’s leading in our own lives?
Saturday, June 10
(Val)
In this chapter of 1 Kings, Elijah the bold becomes Elijah the dejected. He flees for his life from, of all people, Jezebel, who threatens to kill him. He meets with God again, and this time whines about his circumstances. What has happened to him? Even God asks him what he is doing there. Yet, I love that God is gentle with him, correcting him and giving him directions to follow. The beauty of this is that even in Elijah’s dejected state, he still follows God, and God still has a plan for him.
It’s not surprising that after the great success Elijah experienced in Chapter 18, he let something minor become huge and overwhelming. This is the way the enemy works. Lies, fear, and anxiety wear us down and make us forget all the victories God has brought about in our lives. Yet, I love God’s promises in the passages from Jeremiah and 1 Peter.
He promises that he has plans for us, that he wants to give us a future and hope, that he will restore us, and make us strong, firm, and steadfast! This is exactly what happened to Elijah. God talked to him and listened to his concerns. God reassured him that he was with him and had a plan for him. Then God gave him Elisha, a companion to walk with him and support him at a time when he really needed it. Throughout this chapter, I see the love and compassion God had for His people even when they were exhausted, worn down, and ready to give up. God picks us up, brushes us off, gives us a boost, and sets us on our journey again. I hope that encourages you as it does me!
When have you experienced something similar to Elijah?
What steps did you take that set you on your journey again?
Where did God intervene and bring you comfort?
How did he provide for you emotionally and spiritually so you could continue following his plan for you?
Not only did God tell Elijah about the other prophets he had kept safe as a way to encourage him, but he also sent Elijah to find Elisha. Elisha was going to eventually replace Elijah as God’s messenger, as Elijah was getting older. Elisha was going to be Elijah’s servant and learn “the ropes” from the elderly prophet, so to speak. I also believe God placed Elisha in his life so Elijah wouldn't be alone in his old age. Elisha would be a companion, a comfort, and an encourager as well. This is such a compassionate example of how God sees and fills our needs, sometimes even before we realize what we need.
How have you seen God’s provision and compassion in your life?
Has there been a time when God provided exactly what you needed even before you realized your own need? Describe that time.
What was the effect this had on your relationship with him?
How did it shape your understanding of God?
I love that God showed mercy and kindness to Elijah when he was at his lowest. This helped Elijah get up and get moving again. This is an important example of how we are to treat others who are struggling. The things of this world come in, knock us down and rough us up, sometimes leaving us weak and struggling. We should take this example of God’s treatment of Elijah and apply it to those around us who are emotionally and spiritually “knocked down.” The theme of having mercy runs throughout the Bible, and we are given many examples of it in both the Old and New Testaments. This makes it an important idea for us to practice.
First, have you ever been at a low point and had someone offer you that important “cup of cold water” to help refresh your soul?
How did that help you get back on your feet?
Second, have you been able to minister care and compassion to someone who was struggling?
How did that person react?
What effect did it have on you to administer kindness to someone else?