Notes !

146 BIBLE STUDY METHODS: PROPHETS

There are more books under the heading “Prophets” than any
other type in the Bible. Four are called “Major” Prophets (Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel). The only reason they are called
“Major” is because of their length. The rest are called “Minor”
because they are shorter in length, compared to the “Major”
Prophets. The terms have no other significance.

The Nature of Prophecy

The reason these books are challenging to read relates to their
form (literary style), and (2) function (speaking for God).

The Meaning of Prophecy

Prophecy has two purposes. We usually only think of
one of the two.
1. To foretell or predict
Examples: Isaiah 44:28, 45:1 (Isaiah prophesied from 740-680
B.C.) Often we only think of prophecies as speaking about
Christ. In this case however, there was a double meaning.
Cyrus was a real king. The prophet predicted that Cyrus would
overthrow Babylon. Cyrus did this in October, 539. B.C. He
issued decrees for rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem in 538
B.C. (See Jeremiah 1:1).
Less than 2% of Old Testament prophecies are Messianic.
Less than 45% relate to the New Covenant age. Less than 1%
relate to events to come. Most are God’s words to His people
then, but they can also speak to us today, and often do.

2. To forthtell
To pronounce instructions, correction or judgment on God’s
people. This was the primary role of the prophet.
Of the hundreds of prophets in the Old Testament, only sixteen
were recorded as speaking forth the oracles of God. Other
prophets are known only for their deeds (Examples: Elijah and
Elisha).
In the prophetic books, we hear from them, not about them!
The prophetic books are collections of oracles. They are not
always in chronological order. Most were poetic in form.

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 Notes !
The Prophet’s Function to Israel
Prophets were “covenant enforcement mediators.” They not only
spoke for God, but they also enforced His commands.
1. They could pronounce blessings or curses.
2. Moses was the paradigm (model) for all prophets. His life and
his writings show how prophets ought to live, even though they
were far from perfect.
3. Moses was a mediator. He stood between the people and God.
All O.T. prophets did this. The blessings and curses spoken by
Moses, and the other prophets of God are from the Holy Spirit,
not from the men who spoke them.
4. Blessings and curses were not usually aimed at individuals.
They were mostly corporate in nature.
5. Look for the pattern.
The curses could take the form of metaphors. Even so, they
were still God’s decrees. Here’s the pattern:
a. Identification of Israel’s sin or God’s love for her
b. Prediction of curses or blessings

When prophets failed, it was because they tried to originate

something God did not tell them to say or do. No one was above
the prophet’s words. The prophet was compelled to speak, even
when it involved great personal risk, which was often. When the
prophet spoke, it was in response to the people’s behavior. Would
they obey the covenant stipulations, or be in rebellion?

Messianic Prophecies
Their nature was progressive. Isaiah 42, 49, 50 and 53 are
examples. Genesis 3:15 and Deuteronomy 8:18 had pronounced
His coming. Interpretations of prophetic writings should function
within the context of these prophetic truths.

Exegetical Task of Interpreting Prophecy

Understanding the prophets requires careful analysis. Outside
reference materials are greatly helpful. Use Bible dictionaries,
commentaries and of course, first of all, the Bible. Word studies
are helpful. A good concordance and topical studies help.

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 Notes !
The Historical Context
There are two kinds of historical contexts: The larger
historical context; or, specific historical contexts.

1. The Larger Historical Context

The 16 prophetic books fall between 760 and 460 B.C. Why?
There was a need to enforce the covenants of God.
a. These were times of political, social and economic upheaval,
which influenced the Israelites’ walk with God - mostly in
the negative sense.
b. There was great unfaithfulness to the Lord during this
period.
c. Judah separated from Israel. There were significant shifts of
boundaries and governments.

2. Specific Contexts
Every Oracle was given in a specific setting for specific
purposes. Each was given to an identifiable audience, at a
specific time in history. They were spoken because the
occasion demanded that an oracle from God be spoken.
Example: Hosea 5:8-10 (a war oracle, announcing that the
judgment of God would be carried out in battle.)

When studying the Prophets, isolate the individual oracles. There

may be more than one oracle in a paragraph or chapter. So don’t
think in terms of paragraphs or chapters. Think oracles! Much of
our confusion comes from combining oracles.

Three Forms of Prophetic Utterance

1. Lawsuit
Example: Isaiah 3:13-26
This is allegorical literature. God is the Plaintiff, Prosecuting
Attorney and Judge. Israel is the defendant. There is a charge.
Evidence is given and a verdict is pronounced.
2. Woe
Example: Habakkuk 2:6-8
This was a prediction of imminent doom. It was sometimes
allegorical. There were at least three elements:
a. An announcement of distress
b. The reason for the distress
c. The prediction of doom
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 Notes !
3. Promise Oracle or Salvation Oracle
Example: Amos 9:11-15
God spoke through the prophet to Israel and to us about His
coming salvation; and, how it would be in the end times. There
were at least three elements.
a. Reference to the future
b. Mention of a radical change
c. Mention of a blessing

Prophecy is Poetry.
The major reason prophecy was poetic was so that it could be
orally transmitted. Therefore, it had to be easily memorized so the
prophecy could be brought to others without corrupting its
message. Some prophetic books are fully poetic, others only
partially so. Poetic prophecy follows normal poetry rules, but here
are three poetic parallelisms upon which we should focus:
1. Synonymous Parallelism (The first line being repeated on the
second line with slightly different words)
Examples: Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3:
“They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.”
2. Antithetical Parallelism (The first thought contrasts with the A couplet is
defined as, “two
second part of the couplet. They are opposites. These are
lines of verse,
most common in Proverbs and Psalms.) usually in the
Example: Isaiah 43:18-19 same meter,
3. Synthetic Parallelism (The second thought completes or joined by rhythm
to form a unit.”
compliments the first thought. It can go from bad to good or
good to bad.) A meter is
defined as “the
Example: Zephaniah 1:13; Isaiah 12:2 basic pulse and
4. Progressive Parallelism (adding one thought that builds on rhythm of a piece
another to produce the message) of music - in this
case, poetry.”
Example: Isaiah 12:2 + Isaiah 12:3
5. Climactic Parallelism (Here the poetic oracle progressively
adds to the first thought to form the complete thought. This is
progressive parallelism taken to its conclusion.)
Example: Isaiah 9:6-7
As you can see, it is often difficult to put a prophetic oracle or a
part of an oracle in a specific parallelism category. With the
exception of antithetical parallelisms, it seems as though an
oracle can fit more than one category. (Additional categories of
parallelisms may be found in reference material.)
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 Notes !
Hermeneutics for the Prophetic Books
People are still people and God is still God. Therefore, it is not
that difficult to interpret what was said in Old Testament times, for
it to become relevant for today. Old Covenant sins are alive and
well in these New Covenant times.

1. Not everything the prophets spoke is for us. An example is

Ezekiel 25-39. Most of this material concerned the fate of the
nations surrounding Israel. It came to pass shortly after it was
pronounced. However, in the midst of Ezekiel 25-39, there is a
messianic prophecy describing the New Covenant and the
blessings of the Messiah upon the church (Ezekiel 37:15-28).
See the doctrine of “Sensus Plenior,” below.
2. Read the prophets, oracle by oracle. Look for the intent of the
author. Watch his style and the way his thoughts are worded.
Seek New Testament confirmation.

Sensus Plenior (Fuller Meaning)

In some cases, the Holy Spirit moved on a New Testament writer
to bring a fuller or second valid meaning to Old Testament
prophecy. This can be confusing. Usually, the fuller meaning
points to Christ, and there should be no conflict. Here is an
example from Hosea and Matthew:
(Hosea 11:1 NKJV) “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.”
(Matthew 2:15 NKJV) “and was there until the death of
Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord
through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.””

Original Context of Hosea 11: Israel’s rescue from Egypt

(Exodus)
Original Intent of Hosea 11:1: To show God’s love for Israel
as His own child
Context of Matthew 2:15: Joseph’s family is rescued.
Intent of Matthew 2:15: To show God’s provision for His Son.
Style of Matthew 2:15: Gospel historical narrative “box”, in
which Old Testament poetry has been inserted as a quote
Wording of Matthew: It is a literal narrative with a
metaphorical quotation, which refers to the following:

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 Notes !
• Egypt = a metaphor for fallen mankind, and the evil within!
• Son = Jesus, the Son of God, not Israel
The Holy Spirit, through Matthew, created a fuller meaning
(sensus plenior) to the Scripture “Out of Egypt I have called my
Son.”

Two final, very important terms:

Orthodoxy = correct belief.
Orthopraxy = correct practice.
When studying prophecy (and the rest of the Bible), be sure you
have both.