By Rev. Malawin P. Cab-ad
These books are less concerned about history but rather on the messages spoken in the name of God. The messages being relayed are like sermons as compared to the writings by the former prophets.
The book of Jeremiah
A man who was born in Anatoth around 645 B.C. His forefather were priests. God called him to become a prophet in 627 B.C. He once favored the reformed movement under King Josiah. Based from our learning, the following are the highlights of the book:
- Chapters 1-25- contains all the words against Judah and Jerusalem.
- Chapters 26-29- It talks about the biography of Jeremiah I
- Chapters 30-35- Contains all the words of hope for Israel and Judah.
- Chapters 36-45- The biography of Jeremiah II
- Chapters 46-51- The words against foreign nations.
- Chapter 52- It talks about the fall of Jerusalem.
The book of Lamentations
Deriving from the term itself, the book cannot be regarded as one that belongs to the prophetic books because it is a writing that is full of lamentations, grieving and mourning because Jerusalem was destructed and that Babylonian oppression arose in 587 B.C. It is presenting a city that was so hopeless because all temples were destroyed, many were raped and the population has been deprived of their rights. Chapter was all about pleading God for mercy and restoration.
The book of Ezekiel
This book is well-known to many Christians. Ezekiel was a priest who gave messages that were divided into three main parts: oracles of judgment against Israel, oracles against other nations, and then promises of Israel’s restoration.
When studying the chapters, the messages were depicted in the
following:- Chapter 1-33- Destruction of Jerusalem
- Chapter 34-48- Rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple. His message strongly gave encouragement to the Israelites that despite of the despair and sufferings, hope in God shall be stronger. He believed that the end of the temple is not the end of God.
The book of second Isaiah
This also known as Isaiah of exile. It gives ideas about the comfort for Israel and Jerusalem with the new Exodus. The writings can be found chapter 40-55.
The book of Nahum
This means rich in comfort and was a prophecy during the time of Assyrian oppression around 650 B.C. The defeat of the Assyrians means that there is salvation in the land of Judah. Nahum praised Yahweh, the God who is in charge of nature and history found in chapter 1:2-8.
The remaining books of the wiritngs are to be discussed in the net article- The Panoramic View of the Bible- Exilic and Post-Exilic Prophetic Writings 2.
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