The Prophets Part 2

Jeremiah
The book of Jeremiah is a heart filled prophecy of a man who was called in his youth to deliver God's message of judgement and repentance to mainly Judah but also Israel and the surrounding foreign nations. Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth. God destined and appointed Jeremiah to be a prophet before he was born. (1:5) Jeremiah dedicated his whole life to the call of God. Filled with great love and compassion for God's people, Jeremiah focuses on wooing the people back to a loving relationship with God through many tearful speeches. Jeremiah faced many great trials, he was threatened and imprisoned many times by his countrymen yet he still was obedient to God's mission for him. Jeremiah's ministry was during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah were kings of Judah. Jeremiah is broken up into four parts, the first part is the call of Jeremiah, the second part is the prophecies to Judah about condemnation and restoration, the third part is the prophecies to the foreign nations and the last part is the fall of Jerusalem.


Character and Nature of God:
God's encouragement and comfort towards Jeremiah's call     1:7-8, 18-19
God calls Israel back home for he is merciful   3:12
God is favourable   5:1
God is compassionate   12:15
God's righteous anger 15:6-9
God's faithfulness and warning 15:19-21
God's anger and judgement  21:3-14, 23:2, 25:7-12, 34:17-22, 46-51

Redemptive Plan:
God's plan to bring each nation home 12:15
Jesus foreshadowed  23:5-7, 33:15-16
God's plan to establish Israel as his people again  24:4-7
God's plan to set Israel free 30:8-11, 30:18-21
New Covenant to be established   31:33-34


Lamentations
The book of Lamentations is a book of mourning. The Holy City Jerusalem has just fallen to the Babylonians. The deep emotions are expressed through the author as one who has seen the destruction of Jerusalem, slaughter of many people and the enslavement of others. This book is broken up into five chapters and can be titled as 1: the destruction of Jerusalem, 2: the anger of God, 3: the prayer for mercy, 4: the siege of Jerusalem,  and 5: the prayer for restoration. In chapter 3:19-49 and 3:55-60 expresses some hope and faith in the fallen city of Jerusalem.

Character and Nature of God
God's righteous anger 2:2
God's providence 2:17
God's faithfulness and mercy 3:22-23

Redemptive Plan
Punishment will end soon 4:22


Zephaniah
The book of Zephaniah is a prophecy about the coming day of the Lord, a day where God is going to deal with sin. Israel and the gentiles will experience the wrath of God but then blessing will come from Jesus. Zephaniah is divided into two parts, the judgement in the day of the Lord (1:1-3:8) and the salvation in the day of the Lord (3:9-20)

Character and Nature of God
God's judgement 1:1-3:8
God is righteous 3:5
God's faithfulness and love 3:17

Redemptive Plan
God will restore prosperity 2:7
God will purify 3:9
God will bring home and restore his people 3:20

Application
Zephaniah 3:17 talks about God delighting and singing over us. This is a timeless truth and I feel like God is wanting to constantly remind me of this, that I may walk out in the fulness of this truth knowing that he rejoices and sings over me. The more I receive this truth the more I will be bale to allow God to work through me and overflow his presence into others lives, so that I may be a blessing to them. This also ties into my point of passion in regards to having a heart for youth. As I said as I learn to believe and walk out in this truth more I will be able to be a better example.


Habakkuk
The book of Habakkuk is different from all other prophet books because this book is a special dialogue between Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk never once addresses the people of Judah rather he address God with issues on injustice and evil. This book is broken into two parts. The first two chapters are the problems Habakkuk addresses and God responds and the last chapter is the praise of Habakkuk. God reaffirms his character to Habakkuk and in doing so this changes Habakkuk's view on life, instead of letting the troubled circumstances shape his perspective of God, God's faithful trustworthy character shapes the way he looks at circumstances.

Character and Nature of God
God's providence 1:6
God's judgement must come 2:2-20

Redemptive Plan
n/a



Obadiah
The book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the old testament. The book portrays Edom's day of judgment because they opposed God's people for many generations. The first 18 verses speak of the judgement to Edom and the last 3 verses speak of the restoration of Israel.

Character and Nature of God
God's judgement 1:1-18

Redemptive Plan
God will bring Israel back to their inheritance 1:17

Ezekiel

The book of Ezekiel was written while Ezekiel was in Babylon in exile. Ezekiel was the son of Buzi, who was from a line of priests. It was there in Babylon during the exile that God spoke to Ezekiel in visions and called him to be a prophet. The book of Ezekiel can be broken down into four parts: the call and commission of Ezekiel (1-3), the judgment on Judah (4-24), the judgement on the gentiles (25-32), and the restoration of Israel (33-48). The literature of Ezekiel is expressed in many different ways: symbolism, visions, allegories, and parables. The heart of the message in Ezekiel is that God desires his people to repent and turn from their wicked ways and live! (18:32) Though if they do not turn back to God, he will judge them (18:23-24). In result God prophecies through Ezekiel the doom awaited for all people, hoping that the people will repent. Though the majority of the book speaks of judgement God does give a glance of hope in a vision to Ezekiel about the restoration of mankind (37:1-14).

Character and Nature of God

God is not limited to one place or one people, He goes where he chooses      chapter 1

God's judgement  chapter 7, 15:8, 16:43, 20:32-38, 22:17-22, etc

God is all knowing 11:5

God can do anything 8:3

God forgives 16:63

God is a God of detail and order 40-48

Redemptive plan

God will restore Israel and bring them back to their homeland 11:17, 34:25-32

Jesus coming as the judge 21:27

Israel will be revived 29:21, 37:4-6;9

Cleansing 36:25-27

Jesus foreshadowed 37:24-28

Salvation through 46:8-10

Application

Ezekiel has really challenged me to get in the word more. For God's word is life to our bones and spirits, it is what makes us live. God desires that we live, so I am asking God for a deeper hunger for his word because it truly is life to our bones

Daniel

The book of Daniel is about a young Jewish teenager who was taken captive to Babylon in 605 BC. The book of Daniel is about God's sovereignty in the affairs of world history. God shows himself that he is God and his kingdom is going to reign forever. Daniel ministered for the full 70 year exile as a prophet and royal counselor under Babylon and also under the Medes and Persians after they overthrew Babylon in 539 BC. Daniel is divided into two sections, the first 6 chapters Daniel serves as an interpreter of dreams and starts to get rank in Babylon. He serves faithfully and starts to influence the top rulers in Babylon along with his friends. Daniel and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) remained faithful to God in the midst of the turmoil their people were undergoing and made a very powerful impact on the pagan societies. The second section of Daniel God gives Daniel dreams. God shows Daniel the plans of redemption for his people through the fall of Babylon, Medes, Persians, Greek and the Roman kingdoms. God shows him that He is going to break into the kingdoms with the coming Messiah.

Character and Nature of God

God gives giftings 1:17

God's sovereignty and providence 2:20-23;44

God's deliverance and protection 3:27

God humbles 4:33-37

Redemptive Plan

God fulfills Jeremiah's words 9:2-3

Jesus death foreshadowed 9:26

Cleansing 12:10

Application

Reading about Daniel and seeing his faithfulness and love to God is so incredible. Not once is something negative mentioned about him. I want to have a relationship with God like Daniel did. God was his first priority and I want God to be mine. Daniel has challenged me to pursue a deeper relationship with God