Page 75 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook- short

The Forms of Prophetic Literature

The prophets employed three main forms of literature in their books: (1) narratives - both biographical
(Dan. 1-3), and autobiographical (Jer. 1; Isa. 6), (2) addresses to God - laments (Lam.; Jer. 9:10; Ezek. 2:3-
10), petitions (Jer. 42:2; Da 9:17), and praise (Isa 12:1-6), and (3) addresses to people - such as taunt
songs (Isa. 14), wisdom sayings (Isa. 28:23-29), and disputations (Isa. 1:18; 43:26), to name a few.

Oracles addressed to people dominate the prophetic books. These addresses may be categorized by
their tendency to focus more on covenant curses or covenant blessings. Although the prophets
addressed people with many different forms of speech, a number of basic patterns appear so frequently
that it is helpful to identify and describe them.

On one side, several forms of speech primarily announced curses, ranging from lesser covenant curses
to the greatest threat, namely exile:

• (1) Lawsuits. As emissaries of the Israel's heavenly King, prophets heard and sometimes participated
in the court of heaven. They then reported what they had seen and heard in the formal language of
that courtroom. God brought his people to trial for having flagrantly broken covenant and sentenced
them to severe curses (Mich. 6:1-2; Isa. 3:13).

• (2) Oracles of Judgment. Prophets also delivered messages of doom with language that did not so
closely reflect the formalities of the heavenly court. These oracles usually consisted of an address
followed by one or more accusations and sentences (Ezek. 7:7-10; Zech. 9:1-8).

• (3) Woe Oracles. When judgment from God was particularly dire, prophets expressed woes. These
speeches were usually very similar to judgment oracles (address, accusations, sentences) with the
addition of a cry of "woe." They warned of how terrible things would be when the curses finally fell
(Isa. 3:9-11; 5:8-22; Ezek. 13:3-18; Hos. 7:13; Nah. 3:1).

On the other side, prophets also announced blessings, ranging from relatively small and personal
advantages to the grand blessing of restoration from exile. These prophecies normally took one of two
forms:

• (1) Oracles of Salvation. The prophets comforted Israel with oracles of salvation or deliverance.
These oracles took a number of different shapes, but usually included some kind of announcement
of blessing followed by elaborations on the wonder of the blessing. The most prominent focus of
oracles of salvation was the restoration of God's people from exile. In fact, whole sections of the
Major Prophets reflected this concern (Isa. 40-55; Jer. 30-33; Ezek. 34-40). These consoling
prophecies were based on God's covenant promises to the patriarchs (Gen. 15:1-21; 17:1-22; 22:15-
18), which Moses later confirmed as he described the time after a future exile as one of
unprecedented mercy and blessing for God's people (Deut. 30:1-10).

Restoration promises found a measure of fulfillment in the return from exile in 539-538 B.C. (see 2
Chron. 36:22-23; Zech. 1:8-17), but the New Testament reveals that their complete fulfillment is in
Christ. In this sense, restoration prophecies were inspired by the Spirit of Christ for his church (1 Pet.
1:10-12; 2 Pet. 1:19-20). Some prophecies pertain more directly to Christ's earthly ministry. Other
predictions pertain more to Christ's ministry and rule from heaven and to the ongoing work of the
church. All restoration prophecies will find their ultimate completion in the realities of the new
heavens and earth when Christ returns.

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