Understanding Old Testament Prophets
We continue with our series on applying and understanding the Bible effectively. As a rule, remember, the Bible was not written to us, but for us. Today we'll briefly look into the Old Testament prophets. The prophets, having a crucial role in the OT narratives, must be given total attention and carefulness if we are to grasp their teaching.
Many, I fear, misinterpret the OT prophets and thereon go on to err most terribly, indeed to a point of misinterpreting God. To misinterpret the Old Testament prophets is to misinterpret God Himself, the sole Author.
Another charge that can be laid upon us is we misinterpret the biblical prophets because we do not know our Bibles, only portions of it, favorite-preferential portions, that is. This is unfaithfulness on our part. May God forgive us. The Bible, to be understood and applied, must be read in its whole entirety.
We should never isolate texts from themselves. They are all tied. And if we are to know God we must know His word fully, not halfly.
Very well, then. Who is a prophet, a biblical prophet? According to one definition, a prophet is "regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God." The common similarities given (of the prophet) are as follows:
(a) Seer
(b) Soothsayer
(c) Forecaster of the future
(d) Fortune teller
(e) Clairvoyant and so on and so forth...
Now, I'll not venture to talk of all these synonyms, as it were. I'll, however, comment on what the prophet is not. The biblical prophets are more forth-telling (God's oracle/message) and not necessarily foretelling (future events). They are ambassadorial, that is, giving a message from a king ("The requirements in exact words and the consequences").
The prophets were to speak in God's place "Thus says the LORD" and not necessarily predicting the future per se, but 'prediction of the future may be included' in their forth-telling.
Noteworthy also is, 'covenant enforcement mediators (watchdogs) were used to remind the people of blessings and curses of the covenantal law of God had given them previously and the consequences of each.' The biblical prophets, too, are not necessarily in chronological order.
Their works were written originally in the Hebrew language (with some little Aramaic, for example, the book of Daniel). Their works carry a lot of similies and metaphors, hyperbole, etc., which is common nature of the (Hebrew) language.
Having understood the characteristics of the prophets, we must ask the right questions to comprehend the message of their works. Note:
(a) Who is the audience?
(b) What's the time frame?
(c) What is the situation (around their works)?
(d) Who is the author, what is their background, time frame?
(e) Think in terms of oracles or sermons, if you like.
(f) Identify Israel's iniquity and/or God's love and a pronouncement of the resulting curse or blessing.
It is of utmost importance to remember, as I often tell people, to never assume the Bible had verses and chapters in its first writing, no. The inclusion of verses and chapters came just recently with the printing of the Geneva Bible.
The verses/chapters exist only to make our referral easy, or if you like, to enhance our memory.
But as much we've these verses/chapters, and they're very helpful, don't get me wrong, I'd prefer men to be in the habit of reading biblical narratives/passages in paragraphs and to think in terms of paragraphs.
The drawback of having verses and chapters is sometimes we fail to follow a trail of thought as intended by the author and we end up misinterpreting them. Why?
Because we stopped halfway. And so it happens when we resume whence we left; we're utterely out of tune with the text. Was this article helpful? Let me know, please!
You're wise and know how to apply.
