...Introduction The book of Habakkuk was written in the period of the campaigns of the Chaldeans[1] against Judah[2], around 600 BC. The book is composed of a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God, of complaints, of a vision of God’s sovereignty and of a final trustful prayer. “... a number of commentators have argued that the book may have been kept deliberately vague about historical detail so that it could be found relevant in a number of situations.” [3] In this essay it is assumed that in the original context; Habakkuk’s complaints in 1:2-4 are about Judah’s sin, the wicked oppressors of 1:5-17 are the Chaldeans and the righteous are the faithful remnant of Judah (1:4, 2:4).[4] Emerging from a period of deep distress, this book’s main theological themes are of great value to the Christian faith. In this essay I will look at six of these themes: the prayer of lament, the character of God, faith, righteousness & life, the patience of the believer, the fear of God and the joy in the midst of darkness. Prayer of lament “O Lord, how long…?”[5] This cry of the prophet comes from his wrestle with the seeming inactivity of God when his people need him most. Habakkuk saw around him horrors in Judah, the righteous outraged by the wicked and justice perverted.[6] In verse 3 Habakkuk expresses his great trouble.[7] Is God really on the throne? Has he lost control over history? Is he still holy and loving? God seems deaf to his prayer. It is good to be reminded that...
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...Prophet: Jeremiah Jeremiah is one of the four major prophets according to the Catholic church. The book of Jeremiah covers the period between 626 BC to 583 BC. It is written by Jeremiah and his secretary Baruch. Jeremiah dictated and Baruch recorded his message. Jeremiah may have been related to the deuteronomic authors or some may say he may been one of the deuteronomic authors. Certainly his message was close to the deuteronomic writing. Jeremiah was born in a priestly family from a town near Jerusalem, around year 650BC, about 100 years after the prophet Isaiah. God had blessed him and God called him when he was very little. Jeremiah followed God’s way and was faithful to God. He lived his life in turmoil because he was witnessing the Israelites acting out their unfaithfulness to God. Jeremiah was called by God to be his prophet to Judah and to the nations in the mist of Judah’s political convulsions : - (687-642), the political dependence of the Assyria brought on an resurgence of idolatry in the form of a syncretist fusion of the Mesopotamian astral gods and the Canaamite fertility deities. - The religious and political situation persisted until 622-621 when the Book of the Law was discovered in the Temple, Josiah led a thorough reform in Judah, which he extended to northern Israel. The people of who had been faithful the Yahwistic covenant did really supported the King. This glorious reign came to end in 609BC after the king’s death. - (609-598) Under Jehoiakim...
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...Timeline Essay of the Prophets Grand Canyon University BIB 351 12/11/2011 After having done a great deal of studying of Old Testament passages about the prophets I will explain what a prophet is, how God worked with them and who they were. God stopped talking openly to people after Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden, He then chose specific individuals through whom He would communicate. The prophet must be able to hear the voice of God and bring God’s words to the world. All prophecy will be “as the Spirit gives utterance” (Acts 2:4). In the ministry of a prophet, a called prophet speaks the message the Lord gives him. The first time the word “prophet” is used in the Bible is in the days of Abraham (Gen. 20:7). Each prophet had a specific message for the people of Israel from God. Some messages were warnings to Israel's about punishment if they continued to sin, others were about God's efforts to reconcile himself with Israel after a period of punishment, and prophecies about Israel and the nations it interacted with. Major Prophets of the Old Testament Isaiah’s period of prophecy was from 740 to 680 B.C. Isaiah is most often thought of as the greatest of the Old Testament prophets of the Bible. Isaiah prophesied about Israel's judgment and reconciliation with God, the coming savior Christ, and judgment of nations, and the end times. Jeremiah's ministry was from 630 - 585 B.C. In his writing he prophesized of the Israelites’ exile to Babylon, the fall of Jerusalem...
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...THE WEST AFRICA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IPAJA, LAGOS, NIGERIA. COURSE TITLE: OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS COURSE CODE: OT 614 COURSE LECTURER: PASTOR AKINOLA TOPIC: BOOK SUMMARY OF “A STUDY OF THE MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT” by Emmanuel Itapson & George E. Janvier prepared by: AYOBAMIJI JOSEPH OLUWAGUNNA March 2013 CHAPTER 1 It is pertinent to have a good understanding of hermeneutics in order to have a correct content and context concepts in the interpretation of the prophets. Because the Bible is quite uniquely different from all other types of literature – its divine Authorship and inspiration, being the major distinguishing feature and prominent hallmark, the interpretation requires divine guidance. Inspiration is the act of the Holy Spirit in leading a man to record the message of God in written documentary while Interpretation is the act of a man in determining the meaning as intended by God in the original passage and how it applies to us today. Interpretation involves skill, but more critically involves Spirit in keeping to rightness. The grammatico-historical method is generally applicable in Biblical hermeneutics to both basic, broad types of writings contained in Biblical literature. Categorized broadly as prose and poetry. Further insights is gained when there is understanding of the literature type being interpreted. Features of Old Testament prophecy: • Bible...
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...Genesis The book of Genesis is primarily narrative scripture. Since Genesis is the first book of the entire bible, the focus is on GOD’s Creation and how through the lives of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph, he demonstrates his power over them in maintaining his creation. The events of the Fall of man and the Flood are paramount in this book. Genesis begins with GOD creating the world, and everything, and everyone (Adam and Eve) in it. The Fall began when Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD, introducing sin into this world. As mankind multiplied, so did sin. GOD confirmed his power over all things in flooding the earth to rid it of sin, choosing only to keep Noah and his family. Abraham, descendent of Noah, and his lineage was then chosen by GOD in a covenant to be His new nation called Israel. Abraham’s son, Isaac, and Isaac’s son, Jacob continued to be chosen people, kept by GOD throughout trials and tribulations. Jacob’s son, Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers only to rule over them and the rest of his family in Egypt during a great famine of that time, closes out the book of Genesis. Exodus The book of Exodus is primarily narrative scripture. This book focuses on the oppression of GOD’s chosen people in Egypt, their departure and journey out of Egypt to the Promised Land led by Moses, and GOD’s covenant with them. Exodus begins where the book of Genesis ends with the 12 tribes of Israel now in Egypt given that Joseph, one of the 12, was...
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...and the Prophets 2013 August 04 In today’s society it seems the making and breaking of promises have become a societal norm in which everyone has been guilty at some point in their life. Making promises to be faithful spouses, friends, and Christians are often associated with someone living according to biblical principles and the Christian worldview. Yet, those professing Christ as their Lord and Savior may have at times failed to uphold their promises due to willful disobedience or by happenstance. Scripture states, God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19, KJV) and it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). These scriptures give believers the assurance that whatever God commands will come to pass. The Old Testament book of Genesis records the earliest indication of God promising to send His son as provision for our salvation (v. 15). The culmination of God’s promise in Jesus is also told in the eyes of the Old Testament prophets He used as spokesmen throughout scripture. A brief analysis of these promises of the coming Messiah will be reviewed during the course of this essay. The Prophets The promise of the coming Messiah was not decided during the time the early covenantal promises were given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David (Kaiser, 1995). By the time the Latter Prophets arrived on the scene the message of a coming Messiah began to proliferate and blossom throughout the scriptures. Kaiser (1995) states, the writing of these prophets began to...
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...large storm and the sailors become nervous, then Jonah explained that God was bringing judgment upon him. The sailors then threw him into the sea where he was swallowed up by a huge fish. God then had the fish cough him up three days later. Jonah then decided to obeyed God and went to Nineveh to fulfill his mission. Amos Amos came as the days of the wicked Northern Kingdom were coming to an end. The people were religious but it was barely spiritual. Amos announces that the neighboring nations would be punished. Amos warns that Israel will be destroyed, and gives examples of this judgment. Amos comes, announces God’s coming judgment to the Northern Kingdom. Doak/Sherwood Ch15 This chapter discuses the topic of prophesy. A prophet is someone who speaks on God’s behalf. They are not only known for what they say but the actions they take in certain situations. There is...
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...Contents Introduction..................................................................13 Chapter 1 How I Discovered the Four Keys...................................... 17 Chapter 2 A Cultural Backdrop for Hearing God’s Voice...................35 Chapter 3 Spiritual Intimacy—The Desire of God’s Heart...............75 Chapter 4 Key #1: Recognize God’s Voice as Spontaneous Thoughts......................................................95 Chapter 5 How to Instantly Remove All Idols from Your Heart and Other Prayer Considerations..................................135 Chapter 6 Key #2: Become Still.....................................................149 4 keys to hearing God's voice.indd 11 11/4/10 1:59 PM Chapter 7 Key #3: Look for Vision as You Pray..............................167 Chapter 8 How to Restore Your Visionary Capacity.......................193 Chapter 9 Key #4: Two-way Journaling........................................213 Chapter 10 A Tuning Dial—The Tabernacle Experience...................253 Recommended Reading.................................................283 Appendix A The Origin of Thoughts, Biblically Speaking..................285 Appendix B Additional Journaling Questions..................................291 Appendix C Working Definitions Concerning Spiritual Realities.......295 Appendix D Personal Application Index.......................................... 305 4 keys to hearing God's voice.indd...
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...What is a prophet? A prophet is one that is inspired to interpret God’s word. A person that is spiritually gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression. In addition, the word prophet also means a predictor; a soothsayer; a chief spokesperson of a movement or cause. There are three duties that a prophet must obtain: Firstly, they must function as preachers. Expounded and interpreted the Mosaic Law to the nation. It is their duty to admonish, reprove, denounce sin, threaten with the terrors of judgment, call to repentance, and bring consolation and pardon. Their activity of rebuking sin and calling for repentance consumed far more of the prophets’ time than any other feature of their work. Second, they function as predictors; who announced coming judgments, deliverances and events relating to the Messiah and his kingdom. Finally, the prophets act as watchmen over the people of Israel. For example, Ezekiel stood as a watchman on the walls of Zion ready to trumpet a warning against religious apostasy. He warned the people against political and military alliances with foreign powers, the temptation to become involved in idolatry and Canaanite cultural worship and the danger of placing excessive confidence in religious formalism and sacrificial ritual. While the prophets functioned in various ways as they communicated God’s message, they occupied one major role in Israel’s religious system; which was the role of a royal diplomat or prosecuting...
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...The North Rose Window at Chartres & Its Intricate Stained Glass Story that Depicts the Importance of Christ’s Heritage from the Old Testament Although it may seem an outdated medium, stained glass is one of the most striking and intricate forms of expression. Stained glass has been one of the most powerful sources of storytelling during its extended history, especially in telling the history of Christianity in churches, cathedrals and similar notable buildings. However stained glass hadn’t been the method of communication in Christianity before the Gothic style. “The elimination of solid mural surfaces and the transformation of the Gothic building into a skeletal frame led to the ascendancy of stained glass during the twelfth century” (Bleiberg.) Not only does stained glass serve to tell remarkable stories, but it is also a significant part of the architecture. It is unlikely to find original stained glass windows that are still intact, and so it is not surprising that Chartres Cathedral, 50 miles southwest of Paris, is renowned for its well-preserved stained glass. Chartres began construction in 1194 and continued to assemble until 1250, and so the Rayonnant style remains somewhat cohesive throughout the cathedral. Chartres has three rose windows, created around 1235, which show some of the most stunning examples of high gothic intricacy and tracery. The north rose window depicts the glorification of the Virgin, and through its incredible complexity and striking painted...
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...Joseph M. Bolton RELS 103-02 Online Old Testament Studies Spring Semester 2011 Session E May 8, 2011 to July 2, 2011 The Old Testament TimeLine Creation & Primeval History The Creation: * God creates the Heavens and the Earth * God creates man in his image. * God creates Adam and Eve. * God places them in the garden. The Fall: * Eve is deceived and Adams falls. * Adam commits first sin. * God creates The Adamitic covenant. * God cast Adam and Eve out of garden. The Flood: * God cause rain for first time. * Noah, only good human on earth. * Noah and 3 sons build Ark. * Noah gathers animals on the Ark. * Earth and all living destroyed. * Flood ends after 40 days and nights. The Patriarchs Abram 18 Century B.C. * Was called out of Ur. * Abrahamic Covenant. * God changed his name to Abraham. * God promises Abraham Canaan. * Abraham meets Melchizeldek. * Abraham’s wife is Sarah. * Abraham’s nephew is Lot. * Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. * Isaac is borne. Isaac 19 Century B.C * Saved from sacrifice by God’s Hand * Half brother of Ishmael. * Married to Rebekah. * The father of Twins Esau, and Jacob. Jacob 20 Century B.C. * Name means “grabber”. * Favored by his mother. * Jacob schemed his brothers Esau birthright. * Fled the camp...
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...Amos – despised religious festivals, prophet to Israel, God holds every nation to standard of general morality Hosea – married to Gomer, marriage symbolized God’s relationship with Israel Gomer – wife of whoredom either cultic or idolater Isaiah – 8th century prophet, split up into 3 parts, Emmanuel prophecy syro-ephraimitic war, 1 Isaiah announcing salvation, 2nd Isaiah exile, 3rd Isaiah post exile Ahaz – father of Hezekiah Hezekiah – good king, brought reforms, destroyed idolaters Manasseh – evil king, brought back idolaters Josiah – good king, repeated Hezekiah reforms centralized worship in God’s temple in Jerusalem Ezekial – mentions abominations in temple, people were bowing to sun god (bum to God relieving themselves), laid on side for over a year, ate food from cow dung, symbolized the way Israelites had to eat in exile, announces new covenant Habakkuk – complains to God, God sends Babylonians/ Hasmoneans Jeremiah – weeping prophet, The Book of Jeremiah records the final prophecies to Judah, warning of oncoming destruction if the nation does not repent. Jeremiah calls out for the nation to turn back to God. At the same time, Jeremiah recognizes the inevitability of Judah’s destruction due to its unrepentant idolatry and immorality Tiglath-Pileser III – Assyrian King, dispersed people in given nation, caused intermarriage and loss of identity Sennacherib – general Assyrian leader, attacked southern Israel kingdom, unsuccessful, 180...
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...Summary of Contemporary Theology Western society is in the midst of a vast cultural and intellectual upheaval that is profoundly changing our world. Just as the 16th and 17th centuries were a transition from medieval to modern periods, the late twentieth century is beginning to move us from modernity to a new "postmodern" era. Because we are only at the beginning of this shift, it remains clear that God’s purpose is to: fill the earth with His glory (Numbers 14:21, Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah 60:1-4, Habakkuk 2:14 Matthew 6:13, Colossians 1:27), the consummating third day expression of God to the earth. The purported changes will intensify the glory of God and bring the church to full disclosure of divine mystery and revelation. Contemporary theology is therefore the study of lost truth dating back to the mid 18th and 19th century trends in theological thought by prophets and apostles of both the Old and New Testament including but not limited to Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, John, Paul, Peter, with special reference to theological options of the present, third-day Christians. The purpose of contemporary theology is to seek—in language and thought—to reformulate the truths given to us by previous generations, and to articulate and conceive a new vision for the twenty-first century. The overarching thesis of contemporary theology is the need for the revelation of truth by the spirit of God. This truth is the only transforming agent of the New Testament...
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...Genesis The basic genre of the book of Genesis is, for the most part, narrative. There are many key themes and events in Genesis, and quite a few of the most popular Bible stories come from this first book of the Old Testament: God’s creation of everything we have come to know as existence, sin (of Adam & Eve, Sodom & Gomorrah, the Tower of Babel, etc.), God’s promises (of love, acceptance, and forgiveness), Joseph’s coat of many colors, and plenty more. After God’s creation of existence, Adam and Eve were disobedient, and therefore were punished. Over time, the human race had become so sinful that God washed everyone except Noah and his family in a global flood Noah's descendant, Abraham, was chosen by God to create a chosen people. Abraham's twelve grandsons from Jacob (who was later renamed Israel) became the “founders” of the land of Israel's twelve tribes. One of Jacob/Israel's sons, Jacob, was sent to Egypt by his brothers (or so they thought- God had planned this for His own reasons, which were good). Joseph's father and family were saved by a newly powerful him. Exodus Exodus’ basic genre is a narrative as well. Key themes and events include: Oppression of the Jews from the Pharaoh, Moses' characterization as the Jews' rescuer, God's plagues sent upon the people, the first passover, Moses parting the red sea, and the fall of Egypt's army. After all of this, the Jews were searching in the wilderness for the promised land, and although God provided them...
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...God’s incomprehensibility and the need of communication between God and Man are the main reasons for the necessity of the Scriptures. The inmate behavior of the fallen man to distort an oral comprehension of the divine truth required a written revelation to teach the human generations about the complexities of the sacred Word of God. The Holy Bible is the way God made a Statement to Man about his fallen state and the Way of Redemption from that. This statement by God was a necessary, sufficient, rational and authoritative mode of Communication to generation after generation of human kind. The topic of necessity of the inscribed Word of God is unfortunately, a topic which is discussed rarely. Some theologians do talk about the necessity of the divine revelation, but that is different from the topic of the necessity of Scriptures because not all revelations are inscribed. The scribed word of God does not comprise the totality of divine revelations (John. 20:30). It is important, however for a theology student to understand the necessity behind the scriptural form of the Word of God. In order to evaluate if it was necessary that God gave the Scriptures to the man, one should understand the meaning of necessity as well as what the Scriptures itself tells about the necessity of the Scriptures. DEFINITION OF NECESSITY Dictionary defines Necessity as “the fact of being required or indispensable” which means that it is the situation that is bound by some constrained circumstances...
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