01.041. WHAT GOD DID THROUGH THE HEBREW PROPHETS
Lesson Thirty-Six WHAT GOD DID THROUGH THE HEBREW PROPHETS Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-12.
Scriptures to Memorize: “God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners” (Hebrews 1:1). “For no prophecy ever came by the will of man; but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
118. Q. Who were the Prophets?
A.The Prophets were men specially called and enlightened by God, to reveal His communications to the Hebrew people and their rulers, particularly throughout the centuries of religious apostasy and national decay. The Prophets were both evangelists and reformers. They were the revealers of God’s will, historians of the nation, instructors of the people, privy counselors to their kings, zealous upholders of true religion, and denouncers of sin in all its forms. They were also foretellers of the various details of the life and work and reign of the coming Messiah. They were preachers of personal holiness, national righteousness, and social justice. For pure devotion, zeal, fearlessness, and spiritual passion, the Prophets were the outstanding leaders of all Hebrew history.
119. Q. Who was the first of the great Prophets?
A. Samuel, the founder of the School of the Prophets.
See Acts 3:24; 1 Samuel 10:5-10; 1 Samuel 19:20; 2 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 2:5; 2 Kings 4:38, etc.
120. Q. Name the great Hebrew Prophets.
A. They were: Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and John the Baptizer.
121. Q. Name the lesser Hebrew Prophets.
A. They were: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
122. Q. What special work did God do through the Hebrew Prophets?
A.He handed down through them a series of predictions covering all the circumstances of the entrance of the Word into human flesh and His dwelling among men as their Messiah and Redeemer. The Prophets foretold that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:13-14, Micah 5:3; Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-35); that He would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-11; Luke 2:1-7, John 7:40-42); that a forerunner would prepare the world for His advent. (Malachi 3:1-2; Malachi 4:5-6; Isaiah 40:3; John 1:22-23; Mark 1:1-7; Matthew 3:1-3; Matthew 11:9-11); that He would possess the Holy Spirit without measure (Isaiah 11:1-9; John 3:34); that His ministry would be authenticated by miracles of mercy (Isaiah 42:1-7, Acts 10:38); that He would be betrayed by one of His own disciples (Psalms 41:9; Mark 14:43-49; John 18:1-5); that the betrayer would return the thirty pieces of silver, the price of His betrayal (Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 27:3-10); that another would be chosen to fill the betrayer’s place (Psalms 109:8; Acts 1:15-20); that His followers would forsake Him in His hour of peril and suffering (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31-56); that He would be scourged, mocked and abused (Isaiah 50:6; John 19:1; Mark 14:65; Matthew 27:27-31); that He would suffer in silence, as the sacrificial Lamb of God (Isaiah 53:4-7; John 1:29; Mark 15:2-5; Acts 8:32-35); that He would be crucified, and His hands and feet pierced (Psalms 22:16; Luke 23:33; Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 13:6; Acts 2:22-23; Acts 2:27); that vinegar and gall would be given Him to drink (Psalms 69:20-21; Matthew 27:33-34); that His executioners would divide His garments (Psalms 22:18; John 19:23-24); that He would endure the Cross even unto death (Psalms 22:1-21; Matthew 27:46; Luke 24:25-27; Acts 26:22-23); that He would die (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:46); that He would make His grave with both the wicked and the rich (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:38; Matthew 27:57-60); that not a bone of His body would be broken (Psalms 34:20; John 19:32-36); that He would be raised up from the dead (Psalms 16:10; Psalms 17:15; Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:39-40; John 2:19-22; Luke 24:1-7; Acts 13:34-37; Acts 2:23-27; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4); that He would ascend to the Father in heaven (Psalms 8:5-6; Psalms 110:1; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 4:8-10; Hebrews 12:2); that He would be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords (Psalms 24:7-10; Psalms 2:6; Acts 2:33; Php 2:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:15); that He would send the Holy Spirit, according to promise, to carry on His work in the world (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:1-33; Acts 4:31; John 15:26-27, John 14:16-17).
123. Q. What was the purpose of these Messianic predictions?
A. They were for the purpose of identifying the true Messiah when He should appear among men.
(1) These predictions were made over a period extending from some one thousand years to three hundred years before Christ. It follows, therefore, that the One in whose life and ministry and work these predictions were all fulfilled, was, beyond all reasonable doubt, the true Messiah. This One was Jesus of Nazareth, our Redeemer, our High Priest, and our King. (2) Prophecy and its fulfilment is another incontrovertible proof of the Divine origin of the Scriptures. 2 Peter 1:21—“For no prophecy ever came by the will of man; but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Peter 1:10-11—“Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.”
124. Q. Who was the last of the great Hebrew Prophets?
A. John the Baptizer.
See Matthew 3:1-6; Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:11-30; Mark 9:11-13, Luke 1:13-17.
125. Q. What was the specific work of John the Baptizer?
A. He was sent to call the Jewish nation to repentance, and to herald the appearance of the Messiah.
See Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 1:13-17; Luke 3:1-22; John 1:19-34; Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1-2; Malachi 4:5-6.
REVIEW EXAMINATION OVER LESSON THIRTY-SIX 118.Q.Who were the Prophets?
119. Q. Who was the first of the great Prophets?
120. Q. Name the great Hebrew Prophets.
121. Q. Name the lesser Hebrew Prophets.
122. Q. What special work did God do through the Hebrew Prophets?
123. Q. What was the purpose of these Messianic predictions?
124. Q. Who was the last of the great Hebrew Prophets?
125. Q. What was the specific work of John the Baptizer?