Torah Lesson 6 Amos and Isaiah: the Intolerant Prophets

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Torah Lesson 6 Amos and Isaiah: the Intolerant Prophets Torah Lesson 6 Amos and Isaiah: The Intolerant Prophets INTRODUCTION During the last lesson on Jeremiah and Jonah, the students had their first encounter with the literary prophets. The focus was on Jeremiah and Jonah, who followed God’s instructions but were never com- fortable with their role. In this lesson the students will learn through the prophets Amos and Isaiah about injustices that God saw in the world. Like Jeremiah and Jonah, Amos and Isaiah also saw the problems that God saw. However, they felt the full importance of the responsibility of the task God gave them and did not attempt to avoid this responsibility. Amos and Isaiah spoke out and felt compelled to do so because they also saw the wrongs the Israelites were committing. Through the texts the students will see that while the Israelites of the time might still have been worshipping God, they were not treating each other fairly and nicely. Amos preached in the Northern Kingdom. His message primarily focused on social justice and God’s concern for all people. He tells the people that although they continue to perform the commanded ritu- als for God, God does not approve these actions. God is most concerned about the unjust way they treat other people. Amos tells the people that God says: I loathe, I spurn your festivals, I am not appeased by your solemn assemblies. If you offer Me burnt offerings—or your meal offerings—I will not accept them; I will pay no heed to your gifts of fatlings. Spare Me the sound of your hymns, and let Me not hear the music of your lutes. But let justice well up like water, righteousness like an unfailing stream. (Amos 5:21–24) These concepts and ideals are a foundation of Reform Jewry in North America. They were the corner- stone of our social action mission in the 1960s and continue to be the underpinning of our call to jus- tice today. Although the book of Isaiah is a single entity, many scholars believe that chapters 1–39 and 40–66 can be ascribed to two different prophets with the same name. There are other scholars who believe that chap- ters 56–66 can be attributed to a third prophet. If you are interested in a discussion of this topic you can consult W. Gunther Plaut’s The Haftarah Commentary (New York: UAHC Press, 1996), p. xxxiv. Isaiah and Amos had a similar message: you can continue to perform sacrifices and bring burnt offer- ings to God but they are meaningless when you don’t treat other humans well. According to Isaiah, God says: And when you lift up your hands, I will turn My eyes away from you; though you pray at length, I will not listen. Your hands are stained with crime—wash yourself clean; put your evil doings 65 66 Torah Lesson 6 CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life away from My sight. Cease to do evil; learn to do good. Devote yourself to justice; aid the wronged. Uphold the rights of the orphan; defend the cause of the widow. (Isaiah 1:15–17) As with Amos, while prayer and service to God are important, we are to heed the call to show more com- passion and concern for others. In this lesson the students will begin to look at the world as God might see it. By sharing the news- paper articles found for homework in the previous lesson, students will have the opportunity to get into the mindset of not only seeing the ills of this world but also determining what needs to be done to correct these problems. Then they will be “transported” back to the time when Amos and Isaiah prophesied. The newsflash from INN–Israelite News Network will provide a historical overview of the Israelites from the Exodus from Egypt to the time in which Amos and Isaiah lived. (For a greater understanding of the time line see pages 98 and 117 in The Gift of Wisdom:The Books of Prophets and Writings, and page 91 in The Gift of Wisdom Teacher’s Guide [New York: UAHC Press, 2001].) Then the students will have the opportunity to look at biblical citations from Amos and Isaiah. Once again they will be asked to hear what God is saying through the prophets, determining what God was disturbed by and what changes the Israelites might need to make to address these injus- tices. The biblical citation exercise has several options to choose from. You, the teacher, know your class better than anyone and you should determine which of the options will provide the greatest learning opportunity for your students. Finally, the students will complete the lesson with their journal writing. ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS • Torah is an ongoing dialogue between the text and its students. • Torah is real in our daily lives: It goes with us wherever we are. • Developing the skills to study the Torah is essential to integrating Torah into our lives. • The prophets were focused on reminding the Jewish people how God wants us to live, and their mes- sages are at the heart of Reform Judaism. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS 1. What does the Torah have to say to me and my world? 2. How can Torah study help me in my everyday life? 3. Why is the Torah different from other books? 4. What is prophecy? 5. What is a prophet? 6. In what ways do the prophets and what they said (prophecy) remind us how God wants us to live? 7. How can I as a Reform Jew understand how God wants me to live through the writings of the prophets? CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life Amos and Isaiah: The Intolerant Prophets 67 QUESTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED 1. What are some of the problems that God might see in our world today? 2. What problems did God see that God spoke to the Israelites about through Amos and Isaiah? 3. How is the world we live in similar to that of Amos and Isaiah? EVIDENCE OF UNDERSTANDING • Through a speech, poem, collage, or poster, students will describe the problems God had with the Israelites during the time of Amos and Isaiah. • Students will compare the problems of the world during the time of Amos and Isaiah and the prob- lems of the world they live in today. • Through class discussion, students will begin to consider what we need to do to correct the problems of our world. LESSON OVERVIEW • Set Induction (10 minutes) • INN—Israelite News Network Broadcast (5 minutes) • Be a Prophet (35 minutes) • Conclusion (10 minutes) MATERIALS NEEDED • A copy or copies of Steven E. Steinbock’s The Gift of Wisdom: The Books of Prophets and Writings (New York: UAHC Press, 2001) for background material on the prophets Amos and Isaiah • Newspapers from the previous week • Scissors • Adult or student teacher to be the INN news anchor • INN Script for news reporter (page 71) • Time Line of the Prophets (page 74) • Map of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms (page 74) • Pointing stick (optional) • Paper • Pens or pencils • Chalkboard and chalk, or whiteboard and markers, or chart paper and markers 68 Torah Lesson 6 CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life • Poster board* • Glue/glue sticks* • Magazines* • Markers* • Quotations sheets (pages 72–73) READING RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS Plaut, W. Gunther. The Haftarah Commentary. New York: UAHC Press, 1996. LESSON PLAN SET INDUCTION (10 MINUTES) Have the students turn to page 9 in their workbooks and share the articles that they found for homework from the previous lesson. They don’t need to read the entire article to the class, just have them: • Give a synopsis of what the article says. • Explain why they think God would be unhappy with what is described in the article. • Describe what we should or could do to correct the wrong action or injustice. Not all of the students need to share their articles, perhaps only four or five, so that the class gets a feel for looking at our world through God’s eyes. If more students are interested in sharing their articles and you do not have the time, then you might want to consider finding five minutes at the beginning of each of the next few classes so that all of the students might have the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas. Have a few newspapers from the previous week available in the room so that if a student did not com- plete the assignment but wanted to look through a paper to find an article, he or she would be able to do the work before class begins or if there is extra time during class. You might want to have an article prepared so that if the students are nervous or wary about starting, you can be the first to share. After, the students might be more comfortable. LEARNING ACTIVITIES INN—Israelite News Network Broadcast (5 minutes) Have an adult or student teacher come in dressed as a TV anchor. The volunteer should be someone who is willing to “ham it up” a little. Place a sign reading “INN (Israelite News Network)” in front of the desk that the volunteer will be speaking from and have him or her read the news report on page 71. If possi- ble, enlarge copies of the Time Line of the Prophets (page 74) and the map of the Northern and Southern *These items are necessary if you choose the alternative activity on page 70. CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life Amos and Isaiah: The Intolerant Prophets 69 Kingdoms (page 74) and display them behind the “anchor.” If the anchor wants, she or he may use a pointing stick to refer to the time line and map during the report.
Recommended publications
  • The Prophet Jeremiah As Theological Symbol in the Book of Jeremiahâ•Š
    Scholars Crossing LBTS Faculty Publications and Presentations 11-2010 The Prophet Jeremiah as Theological Symbol in the Book of Jeremiah” Gary E. Yates Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/lts_fac_pubs Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, History of Religions of Eastern Origins Commons, History of Religions of Western Origin Commons, Other Religion Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Yates, Gary E., "The Prophet Jeremiah as Theological Symbol in the Book of Jeremiah”" (2010). LBTS Faculty Publications and Presentations. 372. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/lts_fac_pubs/372 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in LBTS Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ETS, Atlanta 2010 “The Prophet Jeremiah as Theological Symbol in the Book of Jeremiah” Gary E. Yates, Ph.D. Introduction Timothy Polk has noted, “Nothing distinguishes the book of Jeremiah from earlier works of prophecy quite so much as the attention it devotes to the person of the prophet and the prominence it accords the prophetic ‘I’, and few things receive more scholarly comment.”1 More than simply providing a biographical or psychological portrait of the prophet, the book presents Jeremiah as a theological symbol who embodies in his person the word of Yahweh and the office of prophet. 2 In fact, the figure of Jeremiah is so central that a theology of the book of Jeremiah “cannot be formulated without taking into account the person of the prophet, as the book presents him.”3 The purpose of this study is to explore how Jeremiah the person functions as a theological symbol and what these motifs contribute to the overall theology of the book of Jeremiah.
    [Show full text]
  • It Is Difficult to Speak About Jeremiah Without Comparing Him to Isaiah. It
    751 It is diffi cult to speak about Jeremiah without comparing him to Isaiah. It might be wrong to center everything on the differences between their reactions to God’s call, namely, Isaiah’s enthusiasm (Is 6:8) as opposed to Jeremiah’s fear (Jer 1:6). It might have been only a question of their different temperaments. Their respec- tive vocation and mission should be complementary, both in terms of what refers to their lives and writings and to the infl uence that both of them were going to exercise among believers. Isaiah is the prophecy while Jeremiah is the prophet. The two faces of prophet- ism complement each other and they are both equally necessary to reorient history. Isaiah represents the message to which people will always need to refer in order to reaffi rm their faith. Jeremiah is the ever present example of the suffering of human beings when God bursts into their lives. There is no room, therefore, for a sentimental view of a young, peaceful and defenseless Jeremiah who suffered in silence from the wickedness of his persecu- tors. There were hints of violence in the prophet (11:20-23). In spite of the fact that he passed into history because of his own sufferings, Jeremiah was not always the victim of the calamities that he had announced. In his fi rst announcement, Jeremiah said that God had given him authority to uproot and to destroy, to build and to plant, specifying that the mission that had been entrusted to him encompassed not only his small country but “the nations.” The magnitude to such a task assigned to a man without credentials might surprise us; yet it is where the fi nger of God does appear.
    [Show full text]
  • SAINT MICHAEL the ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH
    ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON SAINT MICHAEL the ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH JULY 11, 2021 | FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. Mark 6:7 1801 SAGE ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056 | (713) 621-4370 | STMICHAELCHURCH.NET ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH The Gospel This week’s Gospel and the one for next week describe how Jesus sent the disciples to minister in his name and the disciples’ return to Jesus afterward. These two passages, however, are not presented together in Mark’s Gospel. Inserted between the two is the report of Herod’s fears that Jesus is John the Baptist back from the dead. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is presented in connection with the teaching of John the Baptist. Jesus’ public ministry begins after John is arrested. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, who preached the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. While we do not read these details about John the Baptist in our Gospel this week or next week, our Lectionary sequence stays consistent with Mark’s theme. Recall that last week we heard how Jesus was rejected in his hometown of Nazareth. The insertion of the reminder about John the Baptist’s ministry and his death at the hands of Herod in Mark’s Gospel makes a similar point. Mark reminds his readers about this dangerous context for Jesus’ ministry and that of his disciples. Preaching repentance and the Kingdom of God is dangerous business for Jesus and for his disciples.
    [Show full text]
  • Micah at a Glance
    Scholars Crossing The Owner's Manual File Theological Studies 11-2017 Article 33: Micah at a Glance Harold Willmington Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/owners_manual Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Willmington, Harold, "Article 33: Micah at a Glance" (2017). The Owner's Manual File. 13. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/owners_manual/13 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Theological Studies at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Owner's Manual File by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MICAH AT A GLANCE This book records some bad news and good news as predicted by Micah. The bad news is the ten northern tribes of Israel would be captured by the Assyrians and the two southern tribes would suffer the same fate at the hands of the Babylonians. The good news foretold of the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem and the ultimate establishment of the millennial kingdom of God. BOTTOM LINE INTRODUCTION QUESTION (ASKED 4 B.C.): WHERE IS HE THAT IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS? (MT. 2:2) ANSWER (GIVEN 740 B.C.): “BUT THOU, BETHLEHEM EPHRATAH, THOUGH THOU BE LITTLE AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF JUDAH, YET OUT OF THEE SHALL HE COME FORTH” (Micah 5:2). The author of this book, Micah, was a contemporary with Isaiah. Micah was a country preacher, while Isaiah was a court preacher.
    [Show full text]
  • Unwelcome Words from the Lord: Isaiah's Messages
    Word & World Volume XIX, Number 2 Spring 1999 Unwelcome Words from the Lord: Isaiah’s Messages ROLF A. JACOBSON Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton, New Jersey I. THE CUSTOM OF ASKING FOR PROPHETIC WORDS N BOTH ANCIENT ISRAEL AND THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, IT WAS COMMON for prophets to be consulted prior to a momentous decision or event. Often, the king or a representative of the king would inquire of a prophet to find out whether the gods would bless a particular action which the king was considering. A. 1 Samuel 23. In the Old Testament, there are many examples of this phe- nomenon. 1 Sam 23:2-5 describes how David inquired of the Lord to learn whether he should attack the Philistines: Now they told David, “The Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are rob- bing the threshing floors.” David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” Then David inquired of the LORD again. The LORD answered him, “Yes, go ROLF JACOBSON is a Ph.D. candidate in Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. He is associate editor of the Princeton Seminary Bulletin and editorial assistant of Theology Today. Isaiah’s word of the Lord, even a positive word, often received an unwelcome re- ception. God’s promises, then and now, can be unwelcome because they warn against trusting any other promise.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Amos 202 1 Edition Dr
    Notes on Amos 202 1 Edition Dr. Thomas L. Constable TITLE AND WRITER The title of the book comes from its writer. The prophet's name means "burden-bearer" or "load-carrier." Of all the 16 Old Testament writing prophets, only Amos recorded what his occupation was before God called him to become a prophet. Amos was a "sheepherder" (Heb. noqed; cf. 2 Kings 3:4) or "sheep breeder," and he described himself as a "herdsman" (Heb. boqer; 7:14). He was more than a shepherd (Heb. ro'ah), though some scholars deny this.1 He evidently owned or managed large herds of sheep, and or goats, and was probably in charge of shepherds. Amos also described himself as a "grower of sycamore figs" (7:14). Sycamore fig trees are not true fig trees, but a variety of the mulberry family, which produces fig-like fruit. Each fruit had to be scratched or pierced to let the juice flow out so the "fig" could ripen. These trees grew in the tropical Jordan Valley, and around the Dead Sea, to a height of 25 to 50 feet, and bore fruit three or four times a year. They did not grow as well in the higher elevations such as Tekoa, Amos' hometown, so the prophet appears to have farmed at a distance from his home, in addition to tending herds. "Tekoa" stood 10 miles south of Jerusalem in Judah. Thus, Amos seems to have been a prosperous and influential Judahite. However, an older view is that Amos was poor, based on Palestinian practices in the nineteenth century.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Zechariah, Volume 2
    EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 VOLUME ZECHARIAH, EXPLORING is second volume of Mark J. Boda’s two-volume set on Zechariah showcases a series of studies tracing the impact of earlier Hebrew Bible traditions on various passages and sections of the book of Zechariah, including 1:7–6:15; 1:1–6 and 7:1–8:23; and 9:1–14:21. e collection of these slightly revised previously published essays leads readers along the argument that Boda has been developing over the past decade. EXPLORING MARK J. BODA is Professor of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College. He is the author of ten books, including e Book of Zechariah ZECHARIAH, (Eerdmans) and Haggai and Zechariah Research: A Bibliographic Survey (Deo), and editor of seventeen volumes. VOLUME 2 The Development and Role of Biblical Traditions in Zechariah Ancient Near East Monographs Monografías sobre el Antiguo Cercano Oriente Society of Biblical Literature Boda Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente (UCA) Electronic open access edition (ISBN 978-0-88414-201-0) available at http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/Books_ANEmonographs.aspx Cover photo: Zev Radovan/BibleLandPictures.com Mark J. Boda Ancient Near East Monographs Monografías sobre el Antiguo Cercano Oriente Society of Biblical Literature Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente (UCA) EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 ANCIENT NEAR EAST MONOGRAPHS Editors Alan Lenzi Juan Manuel Tebes Editorial Board Reinhard Achenbach C. L. Crouch Esther J. Hamori Chistopher B. Hays René Krüger Graciela Gestoso Singer Bruce Wells Number 17 EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 The Development and Role of Biblical Traditions in Zechariah by Mark J.
    [Show full text]
  • Easter 8:00 and 10:00 A.M. Jeremiah 31:1-6 at That Time, Says the LORD, I
    Easter 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Jeremiah 31:1-6 At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the LORD: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.” Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; * his mercy endures for ever. 2 Let Israel now proclaim, * "His mercy endures for ever." 14 The LORD is my strength and my song, * and he has become my salvation. 15 There is a sound of exultation and victory * in the tents of the righteous: 16 "The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! * the right hand of the LORD is exalted! the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!" 17 I shall not die, but live, * and declare the works of the LORD. 18 The LORD has punished me sorely, * but he did not hand me over to death.
    [Show full text]
  • 5. Jesus Christ-The Key of David (Isaiah 22:15-25)
    1 Jesus Christ, the Key of David Isaiah 22:15-25 Introduction: In Isaiah 22, the Lord sent Isaiah to make an announcement to a government official named Shebna, who served Hezekiah, the king of Judah. The news he had for Shebna was not good. Shebna had, apparently, used his position to increase his own wealth and glory, and had usurped authority which did not belong to him. Shebna received the news that he would soon be abruptly removed from his office. Isaiah also announced that another man (named Eliakim) would take his place, who would administer the office faithfully. This new man would be a type of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 22:15-25 I. The fall of self-serving Shebna (vv. 15-19) In verse 15, the Lord sent Isaiah to deliver a message to Shebna, who was the treasurer in the government of Judah. He is also described as being “over the house.” This particular position was first mentioned in the time of Solomon. (Apparently, the office did not exist in the days of King Saul or King David, because it is not mentioned.) Afterward, it became an important office both in the northern and southern kingdoms. 1 Kings 4:1-6; 16:9; 18:3 2 Kings 10:5 The office of the man who was “over the house” of the king of Judah seems to have increased in importance over time, until it was similar to the Egyptian office of vizier. Joseph had been given this incredibly powerful position in the government of Pharaoh. (In fact, this position seems to have been created, for the first time, in Joseph’s day.) Joseph possessed all the power of the Pharaoh.
    [Show full text]
  • Chesapeake Circuit Court Alan P. Krasnoff, Clerk Posting Docket Tuesday- May 25, 2021
    CHESAPEAKE CIRCUIT COURT ALAN P. KRASNOFF, CLERK POSTING DOCKET TUESDAY- MAY 25, 2021 TIME JUDGE CTRM CASE NUMBER DEFENDANT CWA DEFENSE ATTY CHARGE CODE ST TYPE 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000762-00 AUSTIN, DONIVAN VAUSHAWN IMPROP/FICTS M 46.2-612 S ADAT REG/TITLE/PLATE 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000765-00 BROOKS, DEMARCUS T HERNANDEZ, DONNA DRIV UNDER M B.46.2-301 S TBS REVO/SUSPENSION 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000765-01 BROOKS, DEMARCUS T HERNANDEZ, DONNA CAPIAS FAIL TO APPEAR M 18.2-456(6) B TBS 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000766-00 DIGGS, CORY ANTWAN CARRY GUN PUBLIC-UNDR M 18.2-308.012 B ADAT INFLUNCE 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000766-01 DIGGS, CORY ANTWAN DWI, 2ND M B.18.2-266 B ADAT 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000766-02 DIGGS, CORY ANTWAN REFUSE BREATH, SUBQ M A.18.2-268.3 B ADAT W/IN 10YRS 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000514-00 JOHNSON, STANLEY R DRIVE CMV W/O LICENSE M 46.2-341.7 S ADAT 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000514-01 JOHNSON, STANLEY R FTA- ADAT M 18.2-456(6) S ADAT 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR19000796-02 MORTON, NATHAN WYATT MISD VIOL COMMUN BASE M 19.2-303.3 ADAT PRBATION 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000773-00 REID, ANTONIO O'BRIEN; II MEASE, ALTHEA TRESPASS- M 18.2-128 B TBS CHURCH/SCHOOL PROP 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000838-00 SWIFT, ISAIAH ELIJAH DJH FELON POSS WPN/AMMO F 18.2-308.2 C ADAT (NOT GUN) 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000838-01 SWIFT, ISAIAH ELIJAH DJH PWID MARIJUANA F 18.2-248.1 C ADAT 09:30 AM JWB 1 CR21000838-02 SWIFT, ISAIAH ELIJAH DJH VIOLENT FELON POSS/TRAN F 18.2-308.2 C ADAT WEAPON 1 CHESAPEAKE CIRCUIT COURT ALAN P.
    [Show full text]
  • Workbook on Isaiah
    Isaiah Condemnation And Comfort “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:2–3) © 2005 David Padfield • All Rights Reserved www.padfield.com Isaiah Part One: Prophecies of Condemnation (1:1—35:10) I. Prophecies Against Judah (1:1—12:6) A. The Judgment of Judah (1:1–31) 1. How does Isaiah describe the nation of Israel? 2. What did the Lord promise to the people if they would repent? B. The Day of the Lord (2:1—4:6) 1. What are the “latter days” mentioned in Isaiah 2:2? 2. What was to go forth from Jerusalem? When? 3. How and when would men “beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks”? 4. How would the Lord “come upon everything proud and lofty”? 5. According to chapter three, what did the Lord have in store for Jerusalem? 6. How would the Lord punish the “daughters of Zion”? The Book Of Isaiah David Padfield www.padfield.com 1 7. What is the “Branch of the Lord”? 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Haggai 202 1 Edition Dr
    Notes on Haggai 202 1 Edition Dr. Thomas L. Constable TITLE AND WRITER The title of this prophetic book is also probably the name of its writer.1 Pieter Verhoef mentioned another possibility: "Koole … compares the way other prophetic books originated, and concludes that Haggai, like Jeremiah, probably dictated his own notes to one or two of his disciples. This procedure would account for the third person, the brevity of the record, and the peculiar use of the formula or revelation."2 Haggai referred to himself as simply "the prophet Haggai" (1:1; et al.) We know nothing about Haggai's parents, ancestors, or tribal origin. His name apparently means "festal" or possibly "feast of Yahweh." This is appropriate since much of what Haggai prophesied deals with millennial blessings. His name is a form of the Hebrew word hag, meaning "feast." This has led some students of the book to speculate that Haggai's birth may have occurred during one of Israel's feasts.3 Ezra mentioned that through the prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah, the returned Jewish exiles resumed and completed the restoration of their temple (Ezra 1See R. K. Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, pp. 944-48; E. J. Young, Introduction to the Old Testament, pp. 267-69; G. L. Archer Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, pp. 407-8; H. E. Freeman, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets, pp. 326-32. 2Pieter A. Verhoef, The Books of Haggai and Malachi, p. 13. His reference is to J. L. Koole, Haggai, p. 9. 3E.g., Joyce G.
    [Show full text]