What Were the Prophets Trying to Accomplish?
The prophets were not primarily trying to satisfy people's curiosity about the future.
They were calling God's people back to God.
Again and again, the prophets confronted the same problems.
The people worshiped idols instead of the Lord.
They oppressed the poor.
They trusted religious ceremonies while ignoring God's commands.
They believed that simply belonging to Israel guaranteed God's favor, even while living in open rebellion against Him.
The prophets challenged that false confidence.
Isaiah declared,
"These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." (Isaiah 29:13)
Jeremiah stood at the temple and warned the people not to trust in the building while ignoring the God who dwelt there (Jeremiah 7:1-15).
Amos condemned those who performed religious rituals while neglecting justice and righteousness.
Micah summarized God's desire in words that are still remembered today:
"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
The prophets were covenant messengers.
God had entered into a covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai. The prophets reminded the nation of that covenant, warned of the consequences of breaking it, and urged the people to return before judgment came.
Their message often followed the same pattern.
They exposed the people's sin.
They announced God's coming judgment.
Then they offered hope to those who would repent.
Even when speaking about coming destruction, the prophets pointed beyond judgment to restoration.
God would preserve a faithful remnant.
He would keep His promises.
He would one day establish a new covenant and send the Messiah.
Understanding this purpose changes the way we read the prophets.
Instead of beginning with the question,
"What future event is being predicted?"
we first ask,
"What problem was God addressing in the lives of these people?"
Only after we understand that message are we prepared to see how God's promises unfold through Jesus Christ and the gospel.
The prophets were not merely predicting history.
They were calling people to faithfulness.
That was their mission then.
And their message still calls us to faithful obedience today.
Continue Your Study
Why Did the Prophets Use Symbolic Language?
The prophets often spoke in vivid pictures, dramatic visions, and symbolic language.
Why?
How would their first readers have understood those images?
And how can recognizing biblical symbolism keep us from misunderstanding prophecy today?
Related Bible Studies
What Is Context?
How Do We Recognize Different Kinds of Bible Literature?
The Story of Redemption
Why Did God's Glory Leave the Temple?
Companion Video
What Were the Prophets Trying to Accomplish?
Read First. Conclude Later.