Episode 85: Who were the prophets?
Dan Weatherall and Paul Davenport introduce a mini-series exploring the role of prophets in the Bible. Recalling their first podcast on prophecy and faith back in 2020, they revisit key themes, focusing on the significance of prophets in the covenant history of Israel. They identify the prophets in the Hebrew Bible, including the major and minor prophets, and discuss the diverse ways prophets conveyed their messages—through criticism, warnings, and symbolic actions. Dan and Paul set the stage for a more detailed exploration of Isaiah and the minor prophets, offering listeners practical tools to read and reflect on the writings of the prophets.
Show Notes
In this episode, hosts Dan Weatherall and Paul Davenport kick off a new mini-series on the prophets of the Old Testament. They delve into what a prophet is, their historical context, and their role within the Hebrew Bible. They explore how the prophets communicated God’s message, often through dramatic actions and vivid language – similar to some aspects of journalism holding power to account or demonstrations and protests. The discussion also covers the structure of the Hebrew Bible, the concept of the covenant, and introduces an acronym, (one that may or may not help!), to categorize the different types of prophetic content. The episode concludes with a look ahead to the upcoming book overview of Isaiah.
Episode timestamps
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:26 Reflecting on Past Episodes
01:41 Introducing the Mini-Series on Prophets
02:57 An example of the prophets writings from Amos
03:44 Understanding the Language of the Prophets
05:29 The Role and Context of Prophets
11:51 Historical Context of Israel and the Prophets
20:06 Understanding God’s Covenant with Abraham
21:59 The Role of Prophets in the Hebrew Bible
22:17 Major and Minor Prophets Explained
24:03 The Unique Methods of Prophetic Communication
26:40 Reading and Interpreting the Prophets
31:03 Seven Types of Prophetic Content
36:21 Applying Prophetic Messages to Modern Times
37:56 Upcoming: an Introduction episode to the Book of Isaiah