The Prophetic Books in 2min

Connecting the Prophetic Books to the Big Picture of the Bible

In order to better understand the prophetic books of the Bible, let’s place them within the bigger picture. In the Bible, God reveals Himself as both the eternal God, who knows the end from the beginning, and as the holy God, who brings all evil to light. It is this God who communicates with people. Sadly, mankind rebels against God and turns away from Him. Nevertheless, God carries out His plan to save mankind through Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, this plan of salvation focuses on the problem of sin and its consequences. And in the prophetic books, God uses individuals to address the problem and announce the solution.

The Key Ideas of the Prophetic Books

Although the prophets speak at different times to different audiences, they all follow the same pattern: They contrast God’s righteous standard in the law with the current sinful state of the people. They warn of the consequences of disobedience and call for repentance.

Application to Christ

This warning is usually offered with a positive outlook, because despite the Israelites' unfaithfulness, God remains true to His promises. He promises that He will carry out His plan of salvation through a person who is repeatedly announced: the Savior. This Savior will free His people from their enemies and establish a Kingdom in which peace and justice will finally reign. But there’s also a promise of a Suffering Servant of God who will eliminate the problem of sin and restore the broken relationship between God and mankind.

Summary

Now, exactly how God will fulfill these promises and carry out this plan of salvation…is revealed to us in the New Testament. So, the prophetic books show us how God uses the prophets to expose the difference between the people's current sinful state and God's righteous standard as set forth in the law. They talk about the sad consequences of disobeying God’s good commandments. But they also show how turning back to God is possible at any time and how ultimately God will be the one to come and rescue His people.

Action Steps

When you examine your own life, where do you see differences between how you live compared to what the Bible says?