Sermons By Ed

Study Notes Ed Underwood The Prophets of Israel: Mediators of God’s Enforcement of the Covenant “For the Lord your God is a merciful God, he will not let you down or destroy you, for he cannot forget his covenant with your ancestors that he confirmed by oath to them.” (Deuteronomy 4:31) The seventeen Books of Prophecy record the messages of the writing prophets (those whose messages are preserved in writing) God raised up to speak for him following the ministries of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. The failings of the Divided Kingdom Era prompted God to speak to Israel in the north and Judah in the south. They continued to speak to God’s people for over 400 years, including the exile to Babylonia and the return to the Promise Land. (1 Kings 12-Esther) Studying the Prophets of Israel presents unique interpretative challenges. We must keep in mind the number one principle of interpretation—the Bible can never mean what it never meant. When we place the prophets in their proper literary and historical