Page 81 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

• (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.

• (2) Oracles against the Nations. Another way prophets brought a message of hope and salvation to
the people of God was through pronouncing judgments against other nations who had rebelled
against God. Although in a formal sense these prophecies were judgments, they served as positive
assurances of salvation for the faithful people of God because they were leveled against the enemies
of God's people. Nahum and Obadiah, in their entirety, describe holy war against Gentiles. Within
the larger books, major sections consist of oracles against the nations (Isa. 13-24; Jer. 46-51; Ezek.
25-32).

Oracles against the nations divide into two main types. On the one hand, a number of prophecies
announced that God would judge specific nations through the aggressions of other nations (for
example, Amos 1:2-2:3; Zeph. 1:18-21). On the other hand, a number of prophets proclaimed that a
final worldwide judgment against the nations would take place after God's people were restored
from exile (Ezek. 38:17-23; Amos 9:12; Hag. 2:20-23).

Christ in the Prophets

Old Testament prophets pointed to Christ and his work in a variety of ways. In all cases, Christ fulfilled
dimensions of these prophetic expectations in his first coming, continues to fulfill them in his ministry to
the church today, and will ultimately fulfill them in the consummation of all things at his second coming.

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