11b. Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
11b. Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
11b. Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
• His Death: tradition says that Manasseh had him sawn in two
Key Passages in Isaiah
• Isaiah 6: The Call to Ministry
Following the death of King Uzziah,
Isaiah goes to pray at the Temple in Jerusalem.
– Isaiah is Uncertain of the Future
• He Sees God On His Throne
– Isaiah Is Worried That His World is a Mess
• Angels Remind Him of God’s Glory
– Isaiah is Worried About His Sin and the People’s Sin
• God is 3X Holy (Holy, Holy, Holy)
• Isaiah is pronounced guiltless
• Isaiah is sent to bear God’s messages
Key Passages in Isaiah
Isaiah 40: The Comfort Chapter
• Gives comfort for people who will soon endure captivity
• Emphasizes the Eternal Nature of God
– “People are grass, the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of
our God stands forever.”
• Emphasizes the Kindness/ Compassion of God
– “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms”
– “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak”
• Emphasizes the Limitless Power of God
– Read verses 12-14
• Emphasizes the Unmatched Greatness of God
– “What image will you compare Him to?” (17)
The Message of Isaiah
adapted from Mark Dever’s The Message of the Old Testament
• Jeremiah was regularly attacked by his close relatives and neighbors, and
other prophets likely because of his support of Josiah’s reforms.
• He was called by the LORD at a young age and was reluctant at first,
much like Moses.
• He served the Lord through the reigns of kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, and
Zedekiah of Judah (until the exile).
• By God’s command, Jeremiah never married or had children (symbolic of
barrenness of a land under God’s judgment).
Jeremiah’s Call & Early Visions
• Jeremiah 1:4—5 God Personally Chooses Jeremiah
– Yatha Hebrew term referring to personal knowledge rather than factual
– Zurak Hebrew term meaning “formed” (Also in Gen. 2 when God formed man)
– Kodesh Hebrew term meaning “sanctified” (Sounds similar to Hebrew for “holy”)
• Jeremiah 1:6-9 God Listens & Responds to Excuses
– Jeremiah feels inadequate because of his youth
– God promises to send him, be with him, and give him words to speak
• Jeremiah 1:10 God Assigns Jeremiah’s Task
4 Negative and 2 Positive
– To root out + To build
– To pull down + To plant
– To destroy
– To overthrow
Jeremiah’s Call & Early Visions
• Jeremiah 1:11—12 Jeremiah’s First Vision
– The almond tree serves as a play on words in the Hebrew language
– Sequed = “almond tree” Sequod = “watching”
• Jeremiah 1:13—16 Jeremiah’s Second Vision
– May have occurred long after or immediately after the first vision
– Boiling Pot represents God’s use of foreign nations to destroy Jerusalem
• Jeremiah 1:17—19 Jeremiah Commanded to Serve
– Jeremiah is informed of all who will be against his ministry
– Kings of Judah, princes, priests, the people