Outline:
Recap:
- Scripture was written as a communal work by the communities of God
- We see God trying to form community at the beginning of Scripture
- We see God's emphasis on community through the Judges and people's rejection of it through the Kings
- We see the impact of the individual on the community through David
Prophets:
- Many prophets throughout the ages
- Tempting to focus on as individuals called to service by God
- Also tempting to think prophets are about telling the future
- Prophets called to deliver a message to the community
- Will focus on just two:
Elijah:
- Hermit living- 1 Kings 17:1-7
- Similar to John the Baptist later
- Easy to focus on as individual
- 2 Kings 2:3- Sons of Prophets
- Also translated as "company of prophets"
- Likely would have been serving under Elijah
- Either way this is a community, they see Elijah as a part of them
- Elisha- Elijah's successor
- Much of Elijah's time after his contest with the Baal prophets was training him
Jonah:
- Question about whether the prophet existed or not
- Is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25...
- Called to go to Nineveh
- Ultimate purpose is to warn Nineveh of coming doom
- Ultimately they choose to follow God
- God has expanded the idea of community beyond just Israel
Return from Exile:
- Ezra and Nehemiah- concern for how to reform community after exile
- Led to refocus on the law
- Issue is if foreigners could be a part of the community, Ruth written as a result
- Treatment of Samaritans also an issue, will talk about next time
Next time, we dive into the New Testament