Bible Test: Prophets

There are several elements which often characterize the relationships between the Lord, the prophets and their hearers. What are these elements?

1. Authority of the Lord over both prophets and their audiences 2. The disobedience of the prophets, sometimes with initial protest 3. Authority of the prophets as representations of the sovereign God 4. The requirement of the audience to choose covenant obedience or disobedience 5.The report of the prophet back to the Lord in the form of prayer

The prophet's overall message can be boiled down to three basic points. What are they?

1. You have broken the covenant. You had better repent 2. No repentance? Then judgement! 3. Yet there is hope beyond the judgement for a glorious; future restoration

In 1 Kings 18:44, Elijah's servant brings him a report. What is the sign against Baal?

A cloud as small as a man's hand rises from the sea

In Israel, there was a long history of individuals who served as the Lord's messengers to the nation and to the world. Who were two of these prophets?

Abraham (Genesis 20:7) Moses (Exodus 3:1-4:17)

Who are the prophets of the divided kingdom?

Ahijah, Elijah, Elisha

Who are the pre-exilic (before the exile) prophets who prophesied to Israel?

Amos and Hosea

Another important feature to note about the prophets is that their books primarily ______________________ (a collection of works brought together as one)

Anthologies

The Hebrew word Messiah means....

Appointed one

What was typically included in the covenant lawsuit?

Arrangement in the divine court, accusations, pronouncement of judicial sentence, description of coming punishment, promise of restoration

What foreign oppressor was sent by Yahweh to conquer the northern kingdom and take them into captivity?

Assyria

Just prior to _____________ invasion, which destroyed Northern Kingdom in 722 BC Just prior to ________________ invasion, which destroyed Southern Kingdom in 586 BC

Assyrian, Babylonian

What is syncretism?

Blending of religions

What was the prophet's function?

Call people to radical obedience and dependence upon God

The content of the prophetic messages were shaped by God's_________ with His people and by the particular ________________ of the individual prophet

Covenant, Historical circumstances

Who gave the calling home while the Israelites were in Babylon?

Cyrus issued the decree to return in 538 BC.

Who are the pre exilic prophets (during exile) who ministered to the Jews in Babylon?

Daniel and Ezekiel

What important event occurred in 586 B.C.?

Fall of Israel

True or False: Israel never becomes enamored with formalized ritual, always remembering the concept of relationship with the LORD

False

True or False: Both Elijah and Joshua challenged the people of Israel to serve Yahweh alone. In both cases, the people's response was a resounding YES!

False, Joshua's challenge was a yes but Elijah's challenge was met with silence

True or False: Mt Carmel is the fertile mountain location where Ahab and Abigail took the vineyard of Naboth

False, Mt Carmel is where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal

True or False: The Via Dolorosa, or the "the way of the sea" is the trade roadway which traverses a mountain pass along the Sea of Galilee through Tel Megiddo

False, Via Maris

True or False: As anthropomorphisms, prophetic books focus on a few major themes that they repeat over and over

False, anthologies

True or False: Of all the genre types in the Bible, the prophetic literature is perhaps the easiest for us to understand

False, it. is the most difficult

True or False: After a great victory a king of the Ancient Near East would record the details on decorated wall known as a papyrus

False, known as a frieze

True or False: Biblical prophets are primary predictors of the future

False, they deal with foretelling of present situation in the near future

True or False: A large percentage of the Old Testament prophetic literature deals with future events

False, they deal with foretelling of present situation in the near future.

True or False: Ahab and Jezebal were totally faithful to Yahweh their God just like Jeroboam, son of Nebat

False, they disobeyed God

A central feature of Hebrew poetry in the extensive use of ________________. These are some of the main weapons in the literary arsenal of the prophets

Figures of speech

Who or what does Ezekiel see departing from the Temple?

Glory of Yahweh

What words are typically used in the Prophetic call?

God's terms: Send, go, speak, I will Prophets to their audience's terms: Hear thus says the Lord

Who are the post exilic prophets who ministered to the returning remnant?

Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi

Who was the king of Judah who trusted Yahweh and prayed, like David, that Yahweh would let the world know that He is God?

Hezekiah

Then prophets indict Israel on the charges of ___________, _________________, and _________________

Idolatry, Social Injustice, and religious ritualism

What does it mean to hang someone in the Ancient Near East?

Impale them on a stake

Where is God's Temple today according to the New Testament?

In Believers

What prophet was sent to this king to assure him and encourage him to trust in Yahweh?

Isaiah

Who are the "major prophets?"

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel

Who are the pre exilic prophets who prophesied to the city of Nineveh?

Jonah and Nahum

Where is the location, which served as the the southern defensive stronghold for the capital city of Jerusalem?

Lachish

Describe the true prophets in the Old Testament:

Loyal servants of God and convinced foes of idolatry, risked their lives when confronting wicked kings, poured their souls into their pleas that turned them back to God

Israel is a land bridge connecting two major empires. What are the major powers?

Mesopotamia and Egypt

What are the remaining writing prophets (The twelve ) also known as?

Minor Prophets

Who was the greatest of the prophets and paradigm for all prophets to follow?

Moses

How could the history of Israel be characterized?

Persistent rebellion against God, it marked on impact on how the prophetic message was written

There are several reasons why prophets used poetry to convey their message:

Poetry can speak powerfully to their emotions, the prophets did not wish to inform their audience Poetry with its stress on symbolism and imagery Poetry can speak about the meaning of future events without details

what is our culture best resembles the scathing, poetic critiques that the prophets deliver against the nations of Israel and Judah?

Protest songs of the 1960's

What is the capital city of the northern kingdom?

Samaria

Who were the most important prophets in the kingdom period?

Samuel, Elijah, Elisha

Who was the king of the foreign nation from the north who attacked Jerusalem ?

Sennacherib

What important event occurred in 586 BC?

The destruction of the temple

Why was the covenant established?

To make Israel a holy nation that worshipped only the one true God

True or False: A proper relationship with God requires a proper relationship with people

True

True or False: Elijah and Elisha prophesied during the divided kingdom and before the exile of 70 years in Babylon

True

True or False: Idolatry is not merely a violation of the law. It strikes at the heart of the relationship between the LORD and His people

True

True or False: The Jezreel valley, the fertile valley and breadbasket of Israel experienced three years of drought during the time of Elijah

True

True or False: The Prophetic books are largely written in the style of Hebrew poetry

True

True or False: The city gate was not only a place where the judges of the city ruled, but acted as the protection for the city and attested to the city's significance

True

True or False: The difference between the major and minor prophets Is the length of their writing (quantity) and has nothing to do with their importance (quality)

True

True or False: The prophets use poetry for much of their message, and it is the poetic aspect of their message that is the most foreign to us

True

True or False: The themes of Deuteronomy are woven into the fabric of the prophetic books

True

True or False: When Judgement comes, many times those who are devoted to God will suffer along with the culture who has gone astray from the path of righteousness

True

What does the name of this mountain mean?

Vineyard of Elohim

What are the prophets who recored their message called?

Writing prophets

Ironically, what does Elijah's name mean?

Yahweh is God