Selected Old Testament prophets and their teachings

previously << prophet jeremiah

​DEFINITION OF PROPHETS 

• A prophet is a person who predicts what will happen in their future.
• A prophet is a person who receives messages from God through a special channel such as vision, dream, prayer and tell people what God has revealed to him 

​Prophecy 

• A divine message from God’s servant
• An utterance by a prophet about an event or events to take place in future 

​The five categories of prophets 

1. Early Old Testament prophets
   They appeared early in the history of Israel as a nation e.g. Moses, Elijah, Samuel ,Nathan
2. Professional prophets
   They earned their living through their work of prophecy like Samuel was given a silver coin as token for his prophecy
   ​They were true prophets and they never give prophecies in favour of what the king wanted to hear
3. Prophetess
   Female / women prophets e.g. Hilda, Miriam and more others
4. Canonical prophets
   Their writings were accepted as truth from God. Their prophecies are recorded and preserved under books bearing their names
5. Work of canonical prophets
   Foretold future events
   Called people to repent sins
   Are God’s spokesmen
   Proclaimed God’s judgement
   Give audience hope and encouragement during suffering
   They told people God’s will
6. False prophets
   They were prophets who were claimed to speak in the name of Yahweh
   They demanded payments for their services
   They lived immoral lives
   They gave false testimonies
   They practiced prophetic ecstasy
   They were not guided by Yahweh by their own imagination
   They promoted idolatry
   They gave message which pleased people
   ​Some were paid by the king to convey message which pleased him

​Describe ways in which prophetic messages were written   

• Some prophets dictated their message to their secretaries
• Prophets wrote their prophetic messages
• Prophet disciples preserved the message orally which were later written
• Some prophetic messages were written by God himself e.g. the ten commandments
• Some prophetic messages were preserved in form of letters
• They were written in stone tablets and scrolls

​Relationship between the old testaments prophets and the New Testaments 

• Old testament prophets condemned insincere worship and elaborate sacrifice which was also condemned by Jesus in the New Testament
• Theme of salvation in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the new testament through the coming of Jesus Christ
• The prophecy of suffering servant in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament through the suffering of Jesus Christ
• The idea of suffering servant in the old testament as prophesied by Isaiah also came to pass through the suffering of Jesus Christ
• The prophecy of the new covenant in the Old Testament is inaugurated by Jesus during the last supper
• Nathan’s prophecy to king David of great descendant who would establish everlasting kingdom is affirmed by the angel Gabriel‘s message during annunciation of the birth of Jesus Christ.

​Similarities between the traditional African and Old Testament prophets   

• Both were approached  to reveal and interprets God’s message to the people
• In some cases prophets led people in religious rituals
• In both cases they were consulted to settle disputes in community
• In both cases they were charismatic personalities
• They both condemned social injustices and evil
• They felt the irresistible force to carry out God’s message
• In both cases they had supernatural powers
• They both warned people of impending danger and foretold the future
• The prophecies in both came to pass
• They were both called by god to convey his messages
• Both were mediators between God and the people 

​Differences between Old Testament and traditional African prophets 

• prophecies of the old testament prophets were recorded and written while those of traditional African prophets were never written or recorded
• old testament prophets were rejected by their own people while those from traditional African were loved by their own people
• Traditional African prophetic character was hereditary while in the Old Testament was never hereditary.
•  Old testament prophets received their message from God while traditional African prophets received their messages from the spirits and ancestors
• Old Testament prophets were universal while traditional African prophet were local i.e. elect with only one community.

​The relevance of the Old Testament and the traditional African prophets to Christians today

• Christian should lead a prayerful life
• Christians should condemn in the evil in the society
• Christians should preach the gospel to all people without discrimination
• Christians should assure people of God’s protection in their lives if they obey God’s teaching
• Christians should be courageous in when doing the work of God
• Christians should lead exemplary lives
• Christian should obey God’s message and those in lawful
• Christians have a duty to reveals Gods nature to the people 

[KCSE 2015 CRE PAPER 1 QUESTION 4A.]
State four differences between traditional African prophets and the Old Testament prophets. (8 marks)

1. The old testament prophets were called by God while traditional African prophets inherited their roles
2. Old testament prophets delivered messages to their own people and those outside their locality while traditional African prophets were concerned with their own communities
3. The prophecies of the old testament were recorded while those of the traditional African prophets were passed on orally
4. Old testament prophets spoke of the coming messiah while traditional African prophets did not have this concept
5. Old testament prophets were rejected in their communities while traditional African prophets were liked/respected by their communities
6. Old testament promoted monotheism/while traditional African prophets promoted polytheism.

Topical questions on selected prophets in old Testament

1. Gives the similarities between traditional African prophets and old testaments prophets (8mks)
2. Explain the roles of prophet in the old testaments (7mks)
3. State five titles given to the prophets in the old testaments (5mks )
4. Give the similarities between traditional African prophets and old testament prophets (8mks)
5. Give the five categories of prophet of prophets (5mks)

Related Searches ...

• traditional-african-view-of-creation.html
• similarities-between-the-traditional-african-myths-and-the-biblical-accounts-of-creation.html
• differences-between-the-traditional-african-myths-of-origin-and-the-biblical-creation-storiesafrican-myths.html
• similarities-and-differences-between-traditional-african-view-of-evil-and-biblical-concept-of-sin.html
• outline-the-importance-of-children-in-both-christianity-and-traditional-african-communities.html

NEXT >> the unity of believers