Who Were These Prophets?

Prophets were pivotal figures during many of our most beloved Old Testament stories. Not only did the prophets stand out as important political figures, they were, more importantly, devices of God that sought to keep the nation spiritually centered. Yet sometimes it’s difficult to keep these important figures chronologically straight in the context of scripture. So since we’ve recently been engaged in a study of the History Books of the Old Testament, and since we’ll be moving shortly to the major and minor prophets, I thought it might be useful to provide a chronological listing of many of these prophets. This post is more of a study tool than it is anything else. Here is the information that you will find listed below: Who?, When? (B.C), Ministered during the reign of these kings, Main Message, Significance. While this list is not completely comprehensive it covers the primary prophets that functioned in the northern and southern kingdoms before the downfall of each respective kingdom. I hope that this list will aid you in placing the messages of each of these prophets within their respective historical context. The words of these prophets continue to echo through the halls of our modern consciousness and their words are still as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

Who?: AHIJAH

When? (B.C.): 934-909

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jeroboam I of Israel (1 Kings 11:29-39)

Main Message: Israel would split in two and God had chosen Jeroboam to lead the10 tribes. Warned him to remain obedient to God. 

Significance: We should not take lightly our God-given responsibilities. Jeroboam did and lost his kingdom.

Who?: ELIJAH

When? (B.C.): 875-848

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Ahab of Israel (1 Kings 17:1-2 Kings 2:11)

Main Message: In fiery style, urged wicked Ahab to turn back to God. Proved on Mount Carmel who the one true God is (1 Kings 18).

Significance: Even giants of faith can’t force sinners to change. But those who remain faithful to God have a great impact for him.

Who?: MICAIAH

When? (B.C.): 865-853

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Ahab of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah (1 Kings 17:1; 2 Chronicles 18:28)

Main Message: Ahab would be unsuccessful in fighting the Arameans.

Significance: It is foolish to move ahead with plans that are contrary to God’s word.

Who?: JEHU

When? (B.C.): 853

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jehoshaphat of Judah (2 Chronicles 19:1-3).

Main Message: Jehoshaphat should never have allied himself with wicked Ahab.

Significance: Partnerships with immoral people can lead us into trouble.

Who?: OBADIAH

When? (B.C.): 855-840?

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jehoram of Judah (The book of Obadiah)

Main Message: God would judge the Edomites for taking advantage of God’s people.

Significance: Pride is one of the most dangerous sins because it causes us to take advantage of others.

Who?: ELISHA

When? (B.C.): 848-797

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash, all of Israel (2 Kings 2:1-9:1; 13:10-21

Main Message: Expressed by his actions the importance of helping ordinary people in need.

Significance: God is concerned about the everyday needs of his people.

Who?: JOEL

When? (B.C.): 835-796?

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Joash of Judah (The book of Joel)

Main Message: Because a plague of locusts had come to punish the nation, called the people to turn back to God before an even greater judgment occurred.

Significance: While God judges all people for their sings, he gives eternal salvation only to those who have turned to him.

Who?: JONAH

When? (B.C.): 793-753

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jeroboam II of Israel (2 Kings 14:25; the book of Jonah).

Main Message: Warned Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, to repent of its sins.

Significance: God wants all nations to turn to him. His love reaches out to all peoples.

Who?: AMOS

When? (B.C.): 760-750

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jeroboam II of Israel (The book of Amos).

Main Message: Warned those who exploited or ignored the needy. (In Amos’s day, Israel was an affluent and materialistic society.)

Significance: Believing in God is more than a personal matter. God calls all believers to work against injustices in society and to aid those less fortunate.

Who?: HOSEA

When? (B.C.): 753-715

Ministered during the reign of these kings: The last seven kings of Israel, Azariah (Uzziah), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah (The book of Hosea).

Main Message: Condemned the people of Israel because they had sinned against God as an adulterous woman sings against her husband.

Significance: When we sin, we sever our relationship to God, breaking our commitment to him. While all must answer to God for their sins, those who seek God’s forgiveness are spared from eternal judgement.

Who?: MICAH

When? (B.C.): 742-687

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah (The book of Micah).

Main Message: Predicted the fall of both the northern and southern kingdoms. This was God’s discipline on the people actually showing how much he cared for them.

Significance: Choosing to live a life apart from God is making a commitment to sin. Sin leads to judgment and death. God alone shows us the way to eternal peace. His discipline often keeps us on the right path.

Who?: ISAIAH

When? (B.C.): 740-681

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Azariah (Uzziah), Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh of Judah (The book of Isaiah).

Main Message: Called the people back to a special relationship with God-although judgment through other nations was inevitable.

Significance: Sometimes we must suffer judgment and discipline before we are restored to God.

Who?: NAHUM

When? (B.C.): 663-654

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Manasseh of Judah (The book of Nahum).

Main Message: The mighty empire of Assyria that oppressed God’s people would soon tumble.

Significance: Those who do evil and oppress others will one day meet a bitter end.

Who?: ZEPHANIAH

When? (B.C.): 640-621

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Josiah of Judah (The book of Zephaniah).

Main Message: A day would come when God, as Judge, would severely punish all nations, but afterward he would show mercy to his people.

Significance: We will all be judged for our disobedience to God, but if we remain faithful to him, he will show us mercy.

Who?: JEREMIAH

When? (B.C.): 627-586

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah of Judah (The book of Jeremiah).

Main Message: Repentance would postpone Judah’s coming judgment at the hands of Babylon.

Significance: Repentance is one of the greatest needs in our world of immorality. God’s promises to the faithful shine brightly.

Who?: HABAKKUK

When? (B.C.): 612-589

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah of Judah (The book of Habakkuk).

Main Message: Couldn’t understand why God seemed to do nothing about the wickedness in society. Then realized that faith in god alone would one day supply the answer.

Significance: Instead of questioning the ways of God, we should realize that He is completely just, and we should have faith that he is in control and that one day evil will be utterly destroyed.

Who?: DANIEL

When? (B.C.): 605-536

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Prophesied as an exile in Babylon during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus of Persia (The book of Daniel).

Main Message: Described both near and distant future events. Throughout it all, God is sovereign and triumphant.

Significance: We should spend less time wondering when these events will happen and more time learning how we should live now so we won’t be victims of those events.

Who?: EZEKIEL

When? (B.C.): 593-571

Ministered during the reign of these kings: Prophesied as an exile in Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (The book of Ezekiel).

Main Message: Sent messages back to Jerusalem urging the people to turn back to God before they were all forced to join him in exile. After Jerusalem fell, he urged his fellow exiles to turn back to god so they could eventually return to their homeland.

Significance: God disciplines his people to draw them closer to him.

Note: For those of you who are using the New Living Translation Study Bible you can find this list in chart form in 2 Kings (pages 594-595).

Comments

[chris]

Thanks Chad for giving me a head-start on the January 30th Sunday teaching. Looking forward to studying these prophets as soon as we hit the wisdom and beautiful poetry of the OT.