The “Big Picture”

the big picture… 57-63/90

ALL THE SAINTS AND ALL THE PROPHETS… reveal God to us... and a glimpse to the future… It is important to understand the message of the prophets. Prophets arose in times of crisis; their job was to be a spokesperson for God. Profits revealed God through four different kinds of pronouncements.

1. what people were doing wrong, Judgment
2. what God is going to do, Instruction
3. what they need to do, and aftermath of judgment
4. what future brings; hope and deliverance

books of Isaiah and Jeremiah are set among earlier time periods. Isaiah takes place around 730 BC which is the middle of the kingdom period. In Isaiah the Assyrians are coming and invading the territory. God sends Isaiah with a message:

“Trust God, don’t do your own thing. It is better to rely on God.”
– this is the key message

One of first names given to God – Emmanuel (means God with us). God’s presence, God with us, represents a new stage, His presence in a person. God is with us. In the New Testament Jesus is born and he is declared, “Emmanuel.” God is with us in the flesh, here to dwell among his people in the form of a man. A new level of God’s presence. Getting a glimpse of what kingship should look like. The Prophets saw the failure. Words of judgment, instruction, aftermath words of hope deliverance, future plans. There is hope after judgment comes.

God makes a new covenant not like the old one. New arrangements. Ezekiel sees the vision of God’s presence leaving. The prophets knew the messages they had for the people; and expected the people to understand.

… might ask yourself, “what does this mean to me, how is this applicable to my life.?”

If we look to scripture how we ought to live, sometimes we feel like we don’t get it… we don’t see it. What we are expected to get is a knowledge of God. There is nothing more relevant to our lives than knowing God. When we embrace the knowledge of God it guide our living and choices and who we are. God’s knowledge has to get inside and change us. We have a vision of the kind of person we need to be to make right choices, and do the right thing… to be holy.

...this portion of the Bible in instrumental in delivering the “big picture” of God… it is coming into focus… and presented to us all right here in the Bible for all to know… don't blink…

… can you see it?