Old Testament Prophecy

The Old Testament Prophets were not crystal balls or oracles. Most of the time, they were exhorting the people of Israel to return to their covenant relationship with God through dependence on and devotion to God. When they did predict, it was almost always to provide hope through revealing truth about the Messiah [Christ] or to forewarn of pending national disaster because of the failure of the nation to heed their calls to repentance.

Haggai Analysis [21 pages]
Detailed verse-by-verse analysis of Haggai, using the English text

Haggai 1 Sermon [7 pages]
A 2500 year old prophecy to a specific community under a different covenant, yet it speaks to us today! We need to be in right relationship with God, devoted to him, depending on him, empowered by him. This is a great example of "forthtelling" prophecy, calling people back into covenant relationship with God [see bottom of page for study questions on that concept].

Haggai 2.1-9 Sermon [7 pages]
We can be reassured by this prophecy about the return of Christ, who will reign as king and bring peace. As a result, we now can do what is right, trusting God with the results. This is a good example of "foretelling" prophecy [see bottom of page for study questions about that concept].

Haggai 2.10-19 Sermon [7 pages]
Can believers today become "unclean" as in this prophecy? How can we remain clean and consecrated before God, both legally and experientially? [These are difficult concepts to understand, but very important.]

Haggai 2.20-23 Sermon [7 pages]
In a prophecy laden with symbolism, God promises to fulfill the Davidic Covenant and bring his servant, the Messiah, to conquer and be his eternal king on Earth! [This is a bit more technical than most sermons.]

Forthtelling [2 pages]
Discussion study questions about forthtelling prophecy.

Foretelling [2 pages]
Discussion study questions about foretelling prophecy.

Many prophets spoke of the coming Messiah. We are sitting on the first century south steps of the Temple Mount, on which Jesus likely walked.

Micah 6.8 NASB: He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Ancient Near East Prophets and Israelite Prophets [1 page]
A summary of what we can learn about Israelite prophets from the archaeological evidence of other ancient near east cultures

Author of Isaiah [2 pages]
The evidence for the real Isaiah being the one author of Isaiah

Daniel's vision of Jesus entering Jerusalem [3 pages]
Bible study about Daniel's prediction of when the Messiah would enter Jerusalem.

Dating the Prophecy of Daniel [2 pages]
The evidence for Daniel being written the sixth century before Christ

False Teaching of Malachi 3.10 [2 pages]
A short essay explaining why it is wrong to use Malachi 3.10 to encourage tithes and offerings

Habakkuk Notes [2 pages]
Brief summary of Habakkuk

Obadiah Notes [4 pages]
Brief summary of Obadiah

Isaiah 40.1-11 Analysis [11 pages]
A technical analysis of Isaiah 40.1-11