5. Prophets – Rayan Lobo,SJ

8/18/2019 5. Prophets – Rayan Lobo,SJ

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5. Prophets – Rayan Lobo, SJ Page 1

Thesis 5 - Prophets

The thesis can be divided into 8 parts.

1. The prophetical books contain oracles of the prophets.

2. The process of prophetical literature.

3. The prophets understanding of God.

4. covenantal Relationship

5. The difference between the pre-exilic and post exilic so called monotheism.

6. Social justice in the prophets

7. Importance of individual responsibility

8. The unresolved issue of the new covenant in the OT.

The thesis basically speaks about the identity- convictions – understandings of – Prophets. It also

sheds light on their role in Israels faith journey, in growing as a people and as a monotheistic

religion and concludes with the hope of the new covenant promised by Jeremiah and Ezekial.

1. Introduction

a) Who Is a Prophet?

Etymology(Gk): prophetes

‘Pro’ stands for - in front of , on behalf of, be fore. ‘phetes’ – comes from – pheni =

speak.

Hebrew understanding of Prophet: is that

Prophet is the mouthpiece of God.

Popular understanding of a prophet is that he is able to predict the future.

When we analyze the term prophet in Hebrew we get 4 meanings.

1. Seer2. Ecstatic

3.

Enthusiat4. Called


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Division of Prophets

Hebrew Scripture is TaNaK. Nabium is the prophetical book. This has former and later prophets.

Later prophets are divided into major and minor prophets.

Former Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings Latter Prophets: They are divided as Major and Minor Prophets depending on the size of their

books.

Major Prophets (3): Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah

Minor Prophets – There are 12 minor prophets.

Latter Prophets are also divided as Pre-Exilic, Borderline and Post-Exilic Prophets based on the

time that they prophesised.

1. The prophetical books contain oracles of the prophets.

Oracle is a solemn declaration made in the name of YHWH. These are uttered orally.

It starts with the messenger formula : ‘Thus says the Lord ’

The oracles are also distinguished more by its existential significance for the people of God.

Oracles are addressed to the communities/nations and never to individuals. Sometimes

they are addressed to kings/priests/judges etc because they represent a

community/nation/religion.

2. This was a long process from Oral proclamation of the prophets’ up to the time when it

took form of the prophetical literature.

From the oral utterance to the book(Prophetical literature) – Uttered, collected, edited and

expanded.

1. Oracle were uttered by prophets,

2. Collected by the disciples of prophets at a later stage.

3. Arranged according to the theme/subject.(Amos1-2 OAF)

Standard outline in distinguishing the prophetical collections of Issiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial

1. Pre-exilic -prophesy of doom – woe oracles

2. Exilic prophesy – Oracles against the Israelites

3. Post Exilic Prophesy – Oracles of Salvation.

4. Edited the text (added certain things)


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5. Expanded by the Redactor( Amos 9:7)(Hope-doxologies-promise of God)

Amos 9.13 – we see the superscription of Hope, doxology – hurried ending.

3. The Prophets Have Given Us a Lofty Idea of God as the Lord of History Who entered Into a

Covenantal Relationship with Israel

The prophets first of all reminded people of YHWH’s interaction in the history, at a specific time and

pace when YHWH freed the Israelites and took them to promised land.. as such YHWH is the Lord of

the history. He enters into a covenantal relationship with the whole of Israel, thus asking for

covenantal fidelity.

YHWH God is presented as the God not only of Israel, but also of other nations as well.

God controls and uses other nations for his purpose.( In Issiah – Assyrians; In Jeremiah –

Babylonians ; In Duetero Isaiah – Cyrus is used to save Israel)

God is not confined to any geographical place(temple-place) (Ez 1-3 glory of God)

God has a name – YHWH – and a character. YHWH means one who causes things to be.

Characters - merciful ( Rahaim) gracious(Hanan) and steadfast in love( Hesed and

Emed)

He is a Covenantal God. He entered into a covenantal relation with Israelite and called them ‘my

people’ (Amos 7: 15, Is 1:3).

Covenantal relationship with Israel

Covenant: is the closest relationship one can have with the other outside the blood

relationship.

It is a mutual agreement between the two – in which one offers certain blessing and the

other has certain obligations.

Now whenever the covenant was not realized (breaking and Breach) prophets appeared and

challenged the people of Israel.


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6. The Difference between the So-Called Monotheism of the Pre-Exilic Prophets and That of

Post-Exilic Duetero-Isaiah.

Israelites coming to believe in a monotheistic God was a gradual process from Polytheism –

Monolatry- Implicit monotheism – Explicit monotheism.

Monolatry : Monolatry means worshipping one God at the same time not denying the

presence of other gods.

Ex 15: 11 – “who is like you O Lord among the Gods?’

Monothesim :

Belief in one God and the denial of the existence of other god.

Implicit Monotheism

Worshiping one God – Not tolerating other gods not denying their existence.

Monotheism of the pre – exilic prophets – which is called implicit monotheism.

In Amos (1-2) God punishes other nations. Whose is he to punish other gods? Who is he

to punish other nations? This implies that he is the only God.

In Isaiah: If you commit sin I will whistle and ……….will come from the north and he

will come and…..

Explicit Monotheism

Came to existence only in post – exilic times (Duetero Isaiah).

Denial of the existence of other gods. – Belief in the existence of one God.

Is 45/22: I am god. There is no other god.

Is 44/6: “I am the first and I am the last. And there is no other god but me.”

The main reason for the gradual evolution of explicit monotheism is not philosophical speculation but

their personal experience of god . That is his protection and help.

7. It is misleading to speak about the social justice of the prophets without a reference to God

and sin.

- The basis of social justice is covenantal relationship.


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God has given commandments and if you deviate from commandments you commit sin.

These commandments insist on the love of the neighbor. Therefore social justice comes

there.

God enters into a covenantal relationship with his people and he expects the people to

maintain the same spirit of covenant with him and with their fellow human beings.

Therefore social justice is the love, concern for the poor, the underprivileged,

marginalized etc.

For them injustice and oppression in the socio-economic and political sphere is not more

evil but sin.

The righteous God demands strict justice from his people.(Is 45/21)

Prophets were not mere social reformers creating new social order but the mouth piece of

God exhorting the people to be faithful to the covenant – love YHWH – loyal to YHWH

and his love .

In the absence of justice, society will suffer but in the end…………

Examples:

- Amos: he appeals for justice and righteousness for the poor and the underprivileged.

- Proto – Isaiah: For him sacrifice without justice is meaningless/worthless. Here

- Micah: Act Justly(Amos), love tenderly(Hosea), and walk humbly before the

Lord.(Proto- Issiah).

Therefore we cannot speak of social justice in prophets without reference to God and sin.

8. Given the situation of the dispersion of the exile, the individual responsibility begins to gain

importance.

- In the pre-exilic time the understanding was collective and National responsibility.(Jer

31/29; Ez 18:1-2) but during the exilic time there is a shift from collective to Individual

responsibility.

- In Ezekial it is explicit. Jer 18: 1-2 : hereafter each one will be punished for his own sin.

- So far they believed in collective responsibility.

- Context has changed. There was a physical and spiritual devastation during exile.

- Physical devastation – No Land, No King, No temple.


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- Spiritual: They thought that they were God’s chosen people, but God had abandoned

them .So the question was ‘Does God still love them?’

In this situation Ezekiel offers them the possibility of conversion.

Hence appeal to each one’s conscience becomes important.

He stressed that each individual is responsible before God.

Even Jer 31/30 stresses individual responsibility.

9.The promise of the new covenant in the post – exilic prophets remains an unresolved

issue in the OT.

- The phrase “New Covenant” we see only in Jer 31 and nowhere else in the OT.

Old Covenant and the New Covenant

Old covenant is conditional covenant/Sinai covenant in the OT. Northern kingdom was

observing this covenant. When NK fell, the conditional covenant annulled or broken.

Unconditional covenant ( 2 Sam 7:14_ I will build a house for you. Your son shall reign

forever. In 587 BCE southern kingdom too fell and people are wondering whether God

is there or not.

At that time Jeremiah comes with saying , ‘ Still God will rule. He will make a New

covenant with you. This is unresolved in OT’.

Now we, Christians believe that it is resolved in Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah comes up with a new covenant in Jer 31/30-

The law is writtern in their hearts.

No longer need to teach

Law (TORAH) is still there. Element of obedience is still needed.

Spiritual element is added to material.

Interiorization of the religion/ law is inscribed in the heart.

Forgiveness: I will remember their inequities no more.

which will be established in the future. But it remains an unresolved issue in the OT because

no one has spoken about the fulfilment of the New covenant in the OT. We Christians

believe that this new covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Now both of them are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.


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Scripture tells Jesus was obedient. Even he took up the cross. Therefore conditional

covenant is fulfilled in Jesus.

We Christians believe that Jesus is David’s son. We believe he rules now through his

resurrection.

Therefore he is not only the son of David, but also the son of God because son of David

is dead and gone after 33 years. God raised him from the dead. Therefore he is God’s

son.

Therefore both the covenants are fulfilled.

5. Prophets – Rayan Lobo,SJ

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