• Sin of the People
• • Rejected their God (e.g., Isa. 1:2-4, Jer. 2:9-13, Hos. 11:1-7, Micah 6:3-5)
  • Allowed foreign religious practices and practitioners to enter their religion (e.g., Isa. 2:6, 65:2-5; Ezek. 8:1-18)
  • Accepted the ludicrousness of idolatry (e.g., Jer. 10:2-10)
  • Oppressed the poor (e.g., Amos 2:6-7, 5:11)
  • Have tolerated and followed bad leaders (e.g., Jer. 2:8, 8:8-11, 23:16-22; Ezek. 34:1-6; Zech. 10:2-3)
  • Not produced as God intended (e.g., Isa. 5:1-7)
  • Completely corrupt (e.g., Isa. 1:5-6, Jer. 5:1-5, Ezek. 16:1-63)
• Repentance
• • God hoped His people would return to Him - He held that opportunity open to them (e.g., Isa. 46:22, Amos 5:4-7, Joel 2:12-14)
  • Repentance was far more than just being sorry for past acts - it involved a complete turn-around in life and commitment to God (e.g., Jer. 7:5-7)
• Judgment
• • God had warned His people (e.g., Joel 1:2-15, Amos 4:1-11) - they had ample opportunities to repent
  • "Day of the Lord" as a day when God would destroy His enemies - Israel and Judah became God's enemies through their sin and thus were punished (e.g., Joel 1:15, 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 2:14-16)
  • Destruction would be terrible (e.g., Jer. 4:23-26, Zeph. 1:2-6)
  • People would be leaderless (e.g., Isa. 3:1-8)
  • People would be judged for their own sin, not the sin of others (e.g., Jer. 31:29-30, Ezek. 18:1-4)
  • The purpose of the punishment was so that Israel would know God once again (e.g., Ezek. 13:14,23; 14:8)
  • The foreign nations who had been Israel's enemies would be judged also (e.g., Isa. 13:1-25:12, Jer. 46:1-51:64, Ezek. 25:1-32:32, Amos 1:2-2:3, Obadiah 1-21)
• Restoration of Israel and Judah
• • Israel will be rebuilt and restored (e.g., Ezek. 40:1-48:35)
  • People would have new, good leaders (e.g., Isa. 9:6-7, 11:1-5; Ezek. 34:23)
  • God would make a new covenant with His people (e.g., Jer. 31:31-34)
  • Peace will reign (e.g., Isa. 2:4, 11:6-9; Micah 4:3-4)
  • Israel will become a paradise (e.g., Isa. 35:3-10, Joel 3:18)
  • Fate of the nations
  • • New future is open to all (e.g., Isa. 56:3-8)
    • Nations will come (e.g., Isa. 2:1-3, Micah 4:1-2, 7:16-17)
    • Foreigners will be subservient (e.g., Isa. 60:10, Zech. 14:16-17) or destroyed (e.g., Joel 3:19, Hag. 2:21-22, Zech. 14:16-17)
  • Restoration will be accomplished by God alone (e.g., Hos. 14:4-7, Micah 2:12) - Israel cannot effect its own restoration
• Nature of God
• • One (e.g., Isa. 45:7,18)
  • Different from humans (e.g., Isa. 55:8-9) - He is finite and humans are infinite - humans can never completely know or understand God
  • Holy (e.g., Hos. 11:9)
  • Powerful (e.g., Isa. 41:1-5, Jer. 10:12-13)
  • His word accomplishes what He intends (e.g., Isa. 40:7-8)
  • Jealous (e.g., Isa. 42:8-9)
  • Disappointed with the behavior of His people (e.g., Isa. 48:17-19)
  • Forgiving (e.g., Jer. 31:34, 36:3)
  • Loving (e.g., Hos. 11:3-4,8-9) - His forgiveness, love, and holiness provide Israel with a future beyond judgment
• Worship
• • God is not impressed by many sacrifices or "showy" worship (e.g., Isa. 1:10-15, Amos 4:4-5, 5:21-23)
  • Should be genuine (e.g., fasting in Isa. 58:1-14)
  • True worship is a righteous life (e.g., Isa. 1:16-17; Jer. 7:5-11, 9:24; Amos 5:24; Micah 6:6-8)
• The Prophetic Task
• • Involved with their time and the leaders of their time (e.g., Isa. 7:1-25, 37:1-35; Amos 7:10-17)
  • Difficulties
  • • No support from leadership (e.g., Jer. 36:1-32, Amos 7:10-17)
    • Strain on family life (e.g., Ezek. 24:15-18, Hos. 1:1-9, 3:1-5)
    • Unable to intercede for their people (e.g., Jer. 7:16, 11:14, 14:11)
    • Face personal danger (e.g., Jer. 26:1-24, 38:1-28; Amos 7:12-13)
    • Lament their task (e.g., Jer. 12:1-4, 20:7-18)
  • Maintain faith despite the difficulties they face (e.g., Hab. 3:17-18)

Artwork by Edward Hicks from the Bible Picture Library of Photo Art (c) Christian Computer Art, 1994-97