The Prophets of Israel were a unique breed of people. They have often been called “prophets of doom and gloom”. There was always a reason for what they said, however, and for the way they said it. They were a people of insight as well as foresight by means of the Holy Spirit of God.
They saw a people violating Gods law. They knew that Law to be part of the Covenant in ancient Israel. Knowing the Principles of Gods holy Covenant, they were very well aware that by breaking this covenant that it would lead directly to Judgement. It would lead to the scattering of Israel. It would lead to the Nations overrunning and destroying Israel. It happened then, and a desolation of Jerusalem is still to come.
In the year 586, the Babylonians marched on into Israel and wiped out the “vestiges” of that Nation. The early Prophets foresaw this destruction decades, even centuries in advance of it happening. The context of most of the prophets of Israel looks toward this Judgment.
The post-exilic Prophets, Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi, looked back on these Judgements. The earlier Prophets saw into the future and saw the invading Nations as tools and instruments of that Judgement.
(1) Assyria destroyed the Northern Kingdom, taking 10tribes into Captivity from 722-701 B.C.
(2) The Prophets foresaw the sins of the Southern Kingdom, Judah: Her idolatry, her immorality, her giving herself to the ways of the world. That this would bring Gods Judgement.
(3) The Prophets foresaw Jerusalem falling to the Babylonians.
(4) They saw the Temple being destroyed in 586 B.C.
Habakkuk cried out to God concerning the injustices of ISRAELS NEIGHBOURS, “God, why don’t you do something?”
God answered, “I will do something. I will send the Babylonians to destroy the Land”.
“No, not that!” , Habakkuk said. “That is not what I had in mind. The Babylonians are unjust. They are idol worshippers. How could you allow them to destroy a Nation which is more righteous?”
Solomon’s huge Temple was so magnificent that it was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. It was the centre of life for Jewish people.
The Kingdom that Solomon developed was an empire, the mightiest in the region. Yet, the prophets saw it all being wiped out because of sin. They foresaw that God would begin afresh with a “Remnant”.
As the Prophets foresaw calamitous events, they called out Judgements. Whether they were simply speaking what God was about to do, or whether their words actually initiated the process, it makes no difference. Gods words would not return to him void……
For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it Isaiah 55;10-11
The Prophets spoke, and what they spoke happened.
Some of the Prophets actually lived through the periods of devastation they prophesied about. Yet, all of Gods Prophets looked forward to Israel’s coming back to the Land and being re-established as a Nation. They looked forward to an age in which Gods plans and purposes would be fulfilled. They saw that purpose as brining the world to an accurate knowledge about him and his ways, as well as his very name.
They foresaw a time in which his Justice and love would abound and be poured down upon the Earth, and at that time when the whole Earth would be finally under his rule.
Elijah Returns
