The Prophetic Books (continued)

How did prophets proclaim God’s message? Usually verbally. But sometimes God had prophets do things, sometimes strange things, to illustrate His message. For example, God had Jeremiah to put a yoke around his neck and stand before the king to illustrate how Israel would be made subject to the rule of Babylon. God told Hosea to marry a prostitute who constantly left Hosea to return to her profession. Each time she left, God told Hosea to get her back. Ultimately, she remained with Hosea. Hosea’s marriage illustrated God’s relationship with Israel. God’s love for His people was so strong that no matter how many times they “cheated” on Him, He was determined to bring them back to Him.

To whom did prophets proclaim God’s message? Primarily to the people of Israel living in the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom. But God through His prophets addressed other nations: Assyria, Babylonian empire, Egypt, Cush (present day Ethiopia), Edom, cities of Tyre and Sidon in present day Lebanon, etc.

How did the people receive God’s message from the prophets? At times, people were receptive to God’s message and messengers, but more often than not the people commonly rejected God’s message and messengers.

Hebrews 11: 32-38

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Jeremiah is probably the greatest example of a prophet who experienced constant rejection by the people to whom he prophesied. For 40 years, he delivered God’s message to the people and for 40 years the people rejected God’s message and Jeremiah. He was regularly harassed and ridiculed. He experienced ostracism from his family and friends. He was imprisoned in a well.

Why were the prophets and their messages commonly rejected by the people who heard them? The messages they spoke were harsh, condemning. Their words were always negative. They exposed to the light of day people’s sins. They were constantly telling people they were bad. The prophets were constantly telling people bad things will happen to them if they do not reject their evil ways. In simple words, the prophets said things/demanded things the people did not want to hear/do. They did not want to give up their gods, their wealth, and their pleasure. Consequently, the people’s reaction to the prophets was what we read in Hebrews 11. Also, they were viewed by people as being a little weird/crazy.

Hosea 9:7-8

The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac. The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.