But My Word   

   Week 3   

Champions for God    

Who among OT men and women rose above the others - 

kings, judges, priests, psalmists or prophets? 

   Our commentary explains how prophets towered spiritually over all. Theirs was the major contribution to Scripture.

   Hebrew and Greek words for prophet indicate those with special ability to see in the spiritual realm, and those who spoke on behalf of another. God's Spirit, power and his Word entered the prophets (see Eze. 37). 

   Prophets lived exclusively for God, not for ordinary pursuits, or coddling the people. 

   They protested sin and corruption, calling for holiness and righteousness in Israel. They championed God's will regardless of consequence to themselves. 

   It was as if God himself spoke through them, which in fact He did. We cannot begin to cover the subject, but here are a few examples of prophetic hope for a coming Messiah:

   For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6).

   But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old (Micah 5:2).

   He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea... to the ends of the earth (Zechariah 9:10). 

   The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land (Jeremiah 23:5).

   In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious (Isaiah 11:10).

   Notice that all these messages refer to the second coming.

Wednesday: God's unique attributes