RE 111: SALVATION HISTORY

Sr. Lalyn C. Macahilo, OND

Topic: Prophetic Books (2 weeks)

Learning Outcomes: At the end of the session, the students can:

D- define correctly the term prophet through recitation;
M- give concrete ways on how to become a prophet of the world today
through public chat; and
W- pray using the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Capsoul:
And he said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.”
-Luke 4:24-

Introduction:
We now come to the last part of the Old Testament books which is the Prophetic Books. In
this module, we shall look into the prophets: their person and their message to the people.
By understanding their background, we can somehow reflect and look into our roles as
baptized Christians particularly our prophetic role in today’s context.

Activity/Assignment: for the 2nd week of this topic

 Each group (same group as Pentateuch) shall choose one prophet from the Old
Testament Prophetic books. There will be no duplication of prophet. Post in the gc
the prophet your group has chosen.
 The group shall answer the following questions:
a) introduce the prophet you chose to your classmates creatively and interestingly
through brief description.
b) what makes the prophet you chose a PROPHET OF THE OLD TESTAMENT?
c) As a student/young person of today’s generation, what are the characteristics of
that prophet you want to imitate? How and Why? (be sure that your answer here is
discussed in your group)
 Presentation of the letters a to c answer shall be via actual reporting during the synch
class or video presentation. The presentation shall not exceed in 6 minutes/SIX
MINUTES.
 Your presentation will be graded as a quiz.
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 RE 111: SALVATION HISTORY
Sr. Lalyn C. Macahilo, OND

Acquisition of New Knowledge:

PROPHETS: from Greek word prophetes
Pro- for
Phanai – to speak
A) person called by God filled with God’s Spirit to speak God's Word to people who
distanced themselves from God.
B) the one who: announces the Good News and denounces the Bad News
C) In a secular term, prophet is often a whistle-blower

PROPHETS
 Men called by God to speak His word to the people, interpreting their present
situation in the sight of God and telling them what He would do to them
 Interpret the signs of the times in human life and indicates what God is saying to us
through those signs.
 They receive their calling through visions, dreams and audible encounters. In turn,
they used a variety of means to deliver the Lord’s message, including oracles,
sermons, writings and parables.
 Addresses problems concerning the fidelity of Israel to the covenant. They inform
and form the consciences of the people.
 Remind us of God’s message. They call the people back to God. Speak on behalf of
God

The calling of a Prophet:

Whenever they spoke to the people, it is indicated that the words they delivered were not
the products of their own opinion or reflection. It is always preceded by these words: “ Thus
says the Lord” or “Thus says God, the Lord.”
The calling of the Prophet follows a pattern: (1) God calls, (2) but the one who is called
refuses on account of his hesitation or sense of unworthiness. Then, the Lord (3) reveals his
task for the prophet, and (4) pledges his assurance of company and protection of the prophet.
Only then, the prophet (5) embraces his vocation and is sent to his mission. Such pattern often
characterized the calling of most prophets of Israel
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 RE 111: SALVATION HISTORY
Sr. Lalyn C. Macahilo, OND

7th century Prophets

8th century prophets Zephaniah
Amos •condemned the resurgence of blatant idolatry and blasphemy
in Judah and fearlessly delivered the message of doom and
• spoke of the “dark day of the Lord” wherein Israel and Judah will be judgement. But like the prophets of old, he consistently
punished but he concluded his prophecy with a message of hope promised for the purification and redemption of the punished
through the restoration of the Davidic kingdom people. He relayed to the people the certainty that Judah shall
fall under the hand of strong pagan nation, the Babylonians,
Hosea but leave a message of hope that Yahweh will redeem them
and gather them again in their homeland.
• He warned Israel of her infidelity by worshipping the Baals, as it was
beautifully paralleled with the unfaithfulness of Hosea’s adulterous
wife, Gomer, but ended his message with Yahweh’s unconditional
love and pardon for the sinfulness of Israel, as shown by the
Nahum
forgiveness of the prostitute Gomer.
•He prophesied against the wicked city of Nineveh, and its fall
under a mightier Babylonian empire. Such prophecy was seen
Isaiah of Jerusalem as divine vengeance against the brutal empire of Assyria.
Despite the portrayal of Yahweh as an avenger of sin and
• condemned the alliance entered by the King of Judah to the pagan
Assyrian king
wickedness, the prophet still gave Nineveh the reminder of
Yahweh’s forgiveness and mercy by calling them to repentance.
MIcah
• In a time when Judah enjoyed prosperity and people came to forget
Habakkuk
God in their abundance, the humble and passionate prophet Micah •He condemned the discord and evil of idolatry prevalent in
“attacked the rich exploiters of the poor, fraudulent merchants, venal Late 6th or 5th century Prophets
Judah at that time. Habakkuk questioned Yahweh for the
6th century Prophets
judges, corrupt priests and prophets but at the same time prophesied
violence that will follow but ended up with his complaints
for the survival and restoration of Judah, and finally spoke of a
descendant of David who would become the Christos, the Anointed transformed into trust in God’s deliverance of the righteous.
Jeremiah
One who will redeem all of Israel and Judah. Joel
• explicitly condemned the abuses of idolatry and infidelity of Judah. He •When Yahweh’s judgment on Judah was made and locusts
announced that the tragic consequence of the sinfulness of Judah is to attacked and ruined the land, Joel gathered the people
be exiled in Babylon for 70 years. However, He assured Judah that together in an assembly, exhorted them to repent and made
Yahweh will not abandon them in their place of exile and pledged for offering to the Lord. To such humility and sincere repentance,
the return of the faithful remnant to their homeland in Judah. Yahweh was stirred to concern for his land and tool pity on his
people
Obadiah
• He prophesied against Edom but emphasized the survival of Mt. Zion. Malachi
•After their return from exile, Malachi directed his vocation of
Ezekiel calling people to repentance form their sinful ways. He pointed
• He was deported to Babylon. There, he labored to remind his out the following offenses of the Jews: offering blemished
fellowmen not to succumb to paganism in order to preserve the sacrifice to the Lord, and mixed marriages and divorce. He
remnants from apostacy, destroy the false hopes of an early return to spoke about the day of the Lord wherein it shall be preceded by
Jerusalem, comfort the captives and assure them of their restorarion, the coming of the messenger who is considered in Jewish
and emphasize the lessons of personal accountability. tradition as Elijah but is interpreted as referring to the person
of John the Baptist for Christians.
Haggai and Zechariah
• They emerged after the Babylonian exile. They called the people to Jonah
rebuild the temple but they became preoccupied with their own
concerns and affairs. Hence, the emphasis of the prophets’ message •Famous of his story of being eaten by a large fish and brought
focused on fulfilling and prioritizing the duties towards Yahweh rather to Nineveh, Jonah spoke the word of Yahweh and warned
than be engrossed with the promises of material comfort and reward.
Nineveh to repent; otherwise, Yahweh will destroy the city in
forty days. From their kings to the lowly person, Nineveh
repented – to the great anger of Jonah who even challenged
the Lord to take his own life rather than live and see Nineveh
unpunished for all its brutality, cruelty in war and idolatry.
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 RE 111: SALVATION HISTORY
Sr. Lalyn C. Macahilo, OND

Major Themes of the Old Testament Prophecy

Justice – The holiness and greatness of God

The holiness Oppression of
and greatness the Poor and  One of the perennial temptations for the Israelite
of God the was idolatry
dispossessed.
 Dismayed by this behavior, the prophets
continually stress the holiness, the greatness and
uniqueness of God.
 Often the prophets interpret tragedies that befell
Trust and
Fidelity
Messianism Israel as punishment for their infidelity to the
covenant.
 Because of their innate sense of holiness in God,
the prophets speak against formalism in worship
Justice – Oppression of the Poor and the dispossessed.

 Under kings David and Solomon, Israel became wealthy and powerful nation.
 With the division of the kingdom, the prophets of the north and the south have the
same message; directed against the injustices that seem to be flourishing in the
society.
Trust and Fidelity

 The prophets would always call the people to have trust in God, for God is always
faithful to his promises. Even when the people do not respond to God, He freely gives
a total love and fidelity not because of any legal obligation but out of complete
goodness and generosity.
 These two themes of justice and the love and fidelity that God asks of us is best
summarized in the words of the prophet Micah: “ …And what does the Lord require
of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”
“To do justice”
to act justly and with sincerity and integrity in our own lives, to
help eradicate injustice in all its forms, which injures the poor and powerless.
“To love kindness”
to reach out to others, to spend ourselves in the service of
others, to “do” our faith.
“To walk humbly with your God”
to recognize God, who is always with us, to
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accept in our hearts that this God loves us, to trust our God and to live humbly in his faith and
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trust.

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 RE 111: SALVATION HISTORY
Sr. Lalyn C. Macahilo, OND

Messianism

 The coming of the Messiah was a deep and constant theme of the prophets. These
prophesies are of great importance because of our Christian faith that Jesus is the promised
Messiah of God.

Conclusion
The life of prophet is a testimony of the truth of the divine will. Whether the message was
one of consolation or condemnation, the prophets, by divine assistance, fearlessly
communicated the word, even if it was against their kings and people. Because of such
vocation, the prophets risked and offered their lives to God.
Being prophetic then is to give up one’s life and wishes in order to have the courage to
speak the word of the Lord. It is a commitment to stand for a certain conviction,
uncompromised by selfish desires and personal agenda – truly a life worthy of example and
admiration.
Summary
 Correct definition of the term prophet

Application:
 Concrete ways on how to become a prophet of the world today

Assessment: group presentation (second week of this topic)

Closing Prayer: ISAIAH 40:3-5

A voice cry out:
“in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway
for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low; the
uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the
mouth
of the LORD has spoken”.
Glory be …

References:
The New American Bible
Quimba, Roawie L., Francisco, Teresita M.,Sagaral, Amelia M. Salvation History An
Introduction to the Bible, 2018, Blue Patriarch Publishing House, Davao City.
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