WALK WITH THE PROPHETS NO. 1 Beginning the story of the prophets. A

Introduction to next two slides In the olden days prophets were called ‘seers i.e. see-ers, people who SAW into the beyond. This is a phenomenon found in many cultures. In the Old Testament we hear of small communities of such seers or prophets.

SEERS B

APPRENTICE SEERS C

Introduction to next six slides We start with Samuel who was not an apprentice prophet but an apprentice priest. He was heavily involved politically. Prophets were often consulted by kings and others but sometimes they took the initiative and spoke out without being asked. That is when they really functioned as ‘prophets’, or spokesmen for God.

THE CALL OF SAMUEL Apprentice priest ‘I have heard you calling in the night’ D

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SAMUEL ANOINTS DAVID KING F

CONSULTANTS G

SPOKESMEN FROM GOD ‘the Word of the Lord came to me and - - ’ PROPHETS H

SUMMARY Background in tradition of Seers Individuals called by God Involved in the politics of the day Consultants to kings Taking God’s messages to kings A number of them appear in the Historical books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings Later prophets have books of their own I

Introduction to next three slides The great prophets had a strong sense of being called and sometimes tell us about their call

THECALLOFAMOS ‘The Lord took me as I followed the flock’ J

THECALLOFISAIAH “Who will go for us?” ‘Send me’ K

THE CALL OF EZEKIEL IN BABYLONIA L

Introduction to next six slides We are interested to hear how prophets got their messages. Amos seems to have looked at and meditated on quite ordinary things, e.g. a plumb-line and a basket of fruit. He also saw locusts. Maybe as he looked at them they morphed into armed men. He saw disaster coming and turned to prayer. Prophets were not just seers and spokesmen. Sometimes they were intercessors.

THECALLOFAMOS ‘The Lord took me as I followed the flock’ M

“What do you see ?” ‘A plumb-line.’ “I am setting a plumb-line in the midst of my people.” “What are you looking at?” ‘A basket of summer (qais) fruit.’ of summer (qais) fruit.’ “The end (qes) has come upon my people.” upon my people.” N

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“Lord God, forgive, I pray you. How can Jacob survive? He is so small” Q

SeerSpokesman and sometimes Intercessor R