God’s Plan in the Major Prophets
I. Overview of the Major Prophets
A. Prophet’s Role
The prophet was one who was authorized to speak forth the message which God had revealed to him.
II Peter 1:19-21 - And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
B. Prophet’s Function
1. Foretelling – Predicting the future
Isaiah 7:14 - The Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:6 - For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 53:5 - He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
2. Forthtelling
C. Historical Context
1. Call of Abraham – 2165 BC
2. Exodus from Egypt and Establishment of Mosaic Covenant – 1440 BC
Exodus 19:5-6 – “Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.
3. Israel enters the Promised Land – 1400 BC
Deuteronomy 17:14-15 - “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses…”
1 Samuel 8:5 - Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.
4. Israel’s first king – 1037 BC
Deuteronomy 17:18-19 - Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.
5. Reign of David – 1000 BC
6. Nation divided – 931 BC
7. The fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria – 722 BC
8. The fall of the southern kingdom of Judah to Babylon – 586 BC
II. Message of the Major Prophets: Repent
Repentance – change of mind
A. Because God blesses obedience
Jeremiah 22:4 - “For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people.”
B. Because God judges rebellion
Jeremiah 22:5-6 - “But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the Lord, “that this house will become a desolation…I will make you like a wilderness…”
Isaiah 53:6 - All of us like sheep have gone astray
C. Because God offers redemption
Hebrews 12:11 - All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
1. Security
Jeremiah 23:3 - “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture…”
Jeremiah 23:4 - “they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified…”
2. Usefulness
Jeremiah 23:3 - “…they will be fruitful and multiply.”
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
3. Eternal righteousness
Jeremiah 23:5-6 - “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’”
