The Major Prophets

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel

Chapter 5 How Should We Respond to the Prophets Today?

Even so, the prophet’s vision of the future is not exhausted by events that will happen in the next few years. Their message often stretches to the future time when God will send his Messiah and even further to the end of time.

The prophets reveal God to us and point to Jesus, but they also call us, as they called ancient Israel, to obedience. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all instruct Israel to get back to following the law of God, including taking care of the vulnerable like widows, orphans, and foreigners who live in their midst. They urge God’s people to act with integrity in all their relationships, to stop lying and committing adultery or stealing from each other. But most of all the prophets insist that God’s people worship him and him alone. The greatest sin of all is idolatry, the worship of false gods. When we listen to the message of the prophets, we should respond by worshiping the true God with all that we have.

Some Things to Keep in Mind When Reading the Major Prophets

First of all, try reading the prophets from the beginning to the end, rather than picking a passage or two. Don’t be intimidated! Yes, they are long and they are sometimes hard to follow, but you will gain a deeper knowledge of God when you make the effort.

Also keep in mind that the prophets have a strange way of talking. Don’t expect a structured outline or even a chronological presentation. Be aware of a general outline like we saw for the three prophets presented above.

As you do, first remember that prophets are directly speaking to their contemporaries, calling them to repentance by making them realize that their sin will be judged if they don’t. To deepen your understanding of their message learn something about the historical situation in which they live and to which they are speaking.