Prophets of the Old Testament

1. The Prophets Dan Wilson, Tim Holton, Lindsay Kroll, Tom Flamm, Gabe Bilotta, Rachel Flynn

2. The Kingdom Breaks Up

3. The Death of Solomon Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, inherited the crown. The south accepted the young king, but the north set for a condition if they were to obey his rule. However, brutality was a large part of Rehoboam’s agenda, so the north rejected him and the kingdom split.

4. Jeroboam Declared the king of the north, Jeroboam immediately broke God’s law and enshrined two golden calves. Multiple violent deaths came with his reign, along with the building of Samaria.

5. The Golden Calves The shrines were built to give Jeroboam’s people hope, but his strategy backfired horribly. The tribes got caught up with worshipping the calves and forgot about God completely, causing great chaos.

6. A Strategic Marriage Ahab + Jezebel. The Deuteronomists were horrified by this marriage. The marriage put Baal, the god of fertility, in God’s place.

7. Elijah and Elisha in the North

8. Elijah Nourished by a Starving Widow Queen Jezebel orders the slaughter of all the prophets in Israel. God sends Elijah to a stream to hide where ravens feed him. The stream dries up so he is sent to the town of Zarephath where he stays with a widow and her son.

9. Saying yes with trust Elijah asks the widow for water and bread She only has enough flour and oil for one more barley cake before they die of starvation. Elijah promises that if she divides the cake with him, then she will never run out of flour and oil. The widow was a pagan but chose to trust that God will provide whatever is needed.

10. Victory Over the Prophets of Baal Ahab blames Elijah for the drought so Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to see whose god can produce rain. The prophets call out to Baal and even began cutting themselves, but still no rain. Elijah then built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed a bull. The people of Baal then poured water on the altar.

11. Victory over the Prophets of Baal Elijah called for God to show His power and God sends down fire that consumes all of the altar. The unfaithful people then fell to the ground and worshipped the God of Israel.

12. God in the Breeze Elijah was then filled with self-pity and had given up on God. Then he heard a powerful wind and felt an earthquake and a fire, but God was not in them. A gentle breeze came and God’s presence filled Elijah and he rededicated himself to God.

13. Condemning Ahab’s greed for a vineyard King Ahab wanted a vineyard so him and Queen Jezebel had the owner killed Elijah then went to Ahab and told him that dogs would lick Ahab’s blood and devour Jezebel. All of these things eventually happened showing Gods power.

14. Off in a Chariot of Fire Elijah knew that his life was over so he went to the Jordan River with his follower Elisha. Suddenly a flaming chariot with fiery horses came between the two and Elijah disappeared into the whirlwind. Elisha cried out and ripped his cloak in half.

15. By Tom Flamm

16. Elijiah’s Departure By Tom Flamm

17. One day, When Elijah believed his life was finished, he and his devoted follower, Elisha traveled to the Jordan River. When they arrived, Elijah parted the water with his cloak, and they walked upon the waterbed. There, Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit. Suddenly, a chariot of fire appeared between them, and Elijah disappeared in a whirlwind. No one finds him, but he later appears at the Transfiguration of Christ. By Tom Flamm

18. Amos: A Cry Against Riches and Injustice Amos was renowned for his harsh, blunt, and angry speeches against royalty He is said to have roared like a lion In Bethel, he condemns King Jeroboam I and his indifference to the plight of the poor He also condemns the rich Samaritan woman, comparing them to fat cattle

19. No Empty Ritual: “Let Justice Roll Down” Amos abominates processions, sacrifices, and hymn singing that is not sincere He says that justice should roll from the heart like water from a river This was a favorite passage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

20. Hosea: God as a Betrayed Husband Hosea is involved in an unhappy marriage with Gomer, a woman He loves her, but she betrays him and commits adultery Hosea uses this trauma to compare Isreal to a betrayed husband: God loves his people, but they constantly turn their back on him In the end, God promises to take Isreal back and Hoseas wife is forgiven

21. Isaiah in the South: the Greatest Writing Prophet

22. Isaiah’s Vision and Response: “Here am I; Send me!” In the temple, probably on a feast day, Isaiah has a shattering experience of the Allholy one. He sees God enthroned, surrounded by chanting angels, with the divine presence filling the Temple. Isaiah fears that he will die because he has seen God. A voice cries “Whom shall I send?”; Isaiah answers “Here am I; send me!” God tells Isaiah to make the hearts of the people sluggish- dull their ears and close their eyes to the message of God

23. A Child will be born: “God is with us: God tells Isaiah to find Judah’s young king Ahaz outside of Jerusalem, where he is preparing for a siege by Syria and Israel Isaiah tells Ahaz that a virgin will bear a son named Immanuel meaning “God is with us” Another of his prophesies tells of a blessed child to come titles that belong only to the greatest of all kings, one who will rule forever

24. The Future King In the days of Isaiah, belief in a messiah had not yet developed, so the prophecy seemed to refer to the future birth of a perfect Davidic prince who would rule Judah in an age of peace and justice- thus “God is with us” Jesus is the messiah, the one to whom Isaiah’s prophecies pointed

25. Jerusalem is saved from Assyria Ahaz must become a vassal of the Assyrian king in return for protection He replaces God’s altar in the temple with one to an Assyrian god Ahaz’s son Hezekiah is faithful to God Towards the end of the revolt, the “angel of the Lord” strikes the soldiers down Thousands of Assyrians are found dead

26. First Isaiah Concludes He has hope for new life to bloom for Jerusalem He leaves as his heritage a passion for God and an unquenchable hope that Israel will one day reclaim its role as a light to the nations

27. Micah in the South

28. Micah was a humble dweller of the outskirts Was inspired to speak God’s truth no matter what Raised as a poor farmhand, he revealed the truth and sufferings about poverty Micah in the South

29. Micah mourns the crimes of Israel and Judah Accuses the rich and rulers of scheming against the poor Says God will punish Jerusalem Exploitation Will Bring Ruin

30. Micah calls for Israel to repent Imagines a day of justice and peace Beat Swords into Plowshares

31. Cultivating Peace Pax Christi Movement post-WWII promoted nuclear disarmament and peace Modern day Micahs

32. Micah foresees a day when a descendant of David’s line will lead Israel to peace and justice from the town of Bethlehem A Great Shepherd from Bethlehem

33. Christians believe the Messiah predicted by Micah was Jesus “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

34. Micah puts in perspective what God wants He doesn’t want elaborate displays or sacrificial offerings God requires justice, kindness, and humility What God Requires

35. Is Anybody Listening? Despite the actions and words of the prophets, the Israelites kept messing things up and ended up in exile. Those in the Exile absorbed the messages of the prophets; they listened and learned. The words of the prophets continue to be passed on, and they have influence many social movements in human history. By Tom Flamm