🎥 Video Lesson
📖 Course Notes
The full course notes for this lesson are available in the official course textbook, Cover to Cover: Old Testament (Village Schools of the Bible, 2022). Please download or view the PDF below to study the material for this lesson.
📖 Download / View Course Notes (PDF)
The Prophetic Books close the Old Testament. The prophets were God’s spokesmen, called to confront His people with their sin, call them to repentance, warn of coming judgment, and give hope through promises of restoration and the coming Messiah.
📌 Major and Minor Prophets
The books are traditionally divided into the Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel) and the twelve Minor Prophets (Hosea through Malachi). “Major” and “minor” refer to the length of the books, not their importance.
📌 Their Message
The prophets called Israel and Judah back to covenant faithfulness, exposing idolatry and injustice. They spoke of both judgment for sin and hope beyond judgment — a coming day of restoration and a coming Redeemer.
📌 Their Setting
The prophets ministered before, during, and after the exile, addressing God’s people in seasons of decline, captivity, and return.
🔴 The Scarlet Thread of Redemption — Jesus Revealed in the Prophetic Books
The prophets are full of detailed predictions about the coming Messiah, all fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
📌 The Suffering Servant
Isaiah 53 foretells the Messiah who would be pierced for our transgressions and bear the sins of many — fulfilled in Jesus’ death.
📌 The New Covenant
Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 promise a new covenant and a new heart, fulfilled through Christ and the Holy Spirit.
📌 The Coming King
Micah names Bethlehem as the Messiah’s birthplace; Daniel foresees an everlasting kingdom; Zechariah and Malachi point to the Lord’s coming.
📚 Key Scripture
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities.” — Isaiah 53:5
📝 Study Questions
- What was the role of a prophet in Israel, and how did they call the people back to God?
- What is the difference between the “Major” and “Minor” Prophets?
- How do the prophets hold together both judgment and hope?
- Which messianic prophecy do you find most striking, and how is it fulfilled in Jesus?
📝 Lesson Quiz
Test your understanding of this lesson. You must score 100% to pass — you can retry the quiz until every answer is correct.