Crossing over the Jordan: A Primer for Reading the Early Prophetic Writings

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Quick Note

I just wanted to say, "thank you," to all who have joined with me in this endeavor. I look forward to reading and conversing with you over the next six months as we tackle a new challenge. Let me just lead off by saying that we will only be reading the selections through three times in this section, so it should give you all ample time to read and reflect on the material. There will also be more substantial information provided here on the blog. As a starter, here is the schedule of readings.

There will be much more to follow on Sunday.

Recap: Our Adventure Thus Far

If you have been reading along with us since the beginning, then you have read through the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and the story of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, and Revelation). Having read through these a number of times, you probably have a good idea of the foundation of the Christian faith. You likely also have a lot of questions about it. That is good; it will make you read it all again some day.

Moving Forward: The Early Prophetic Writings

Now it is time to delve back into the First Testament. We are going to pick up where we left off, reading through Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 2 Kings. I have titled this the Early Prophetic Writings because that is how these texts are understood in Judaism. They are not “historical books;” they are part of what makes up the “Prophets” section of the Hebrew Bible (joined by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Book of the Twelve).

This categorization should color the way we read these texts. It is central to the confession of the Christian faith and the Jewish faith that these texts are inspired, prophetic texts. These texts are inspired because they are interpretations of events that have been authorized by the God of Israel. These texts are prophetic because they are produced by the community of Israel, God’s agent of revelation in the world (for more on this, listen to this sermon). In other words, prophecy is not simply future casting. Prophecy is what issues from the mouth or “pen” of the appointed agents of God, whether it interprets the past, present, or future.

With that said, these books are filled with confusing and sometimes conflicting information. For instance, did Joshua leave Israel with “rest…from all their surrounding enemies” (Joshua 23:1)? Or were they constantly fighting and compromising with the Canaanites after his death (Judges 1-3)? And does anyone really know what is going on with Jehoram of Israel, Joram of Israel, and Jehoram of Judah at the beginning of 2 Kings? (I know I do not have a clue.)

We may not clarify all of these issues 100%. But, I think we will be able to discern the strand of consistent witness within these six books. These books convey the ebbs and flows of the nation to which God has bound himself inextricably. Further, they display a God slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, contrasted with a people that are quick to take advantage of God’s reluctance to exact his covenant curse for the sake of self-service and greed. It is also filled with  strands of the gritty faithfulness of individuals who provide hope for Israel's future. In short, these texts tell us something important about what we are as human beings. Their stories give us tangible witness to our past and help us interpret our present so that we can become something different in the future. This is the true mark of prophecy.