Prophetic Interpretation Page 4: Back to the Basics

This being said, let us go over some of the basics of what we had learned in our Hermeneutics discussions.  Let us go back to the basics and start all over again.  When we are finished, consider how Christ would truly want us to live.  Consider how He would want us to study, to preach, to teach and to offer counsel in these dark times.

From this point on I will be referring to Chapter 11: Genres: Prophecy and Apocalyptic Literature of your BIB 121 Introduction to Hermeneutics course almost exclusively.  Notice how in 11.1A, paragraph 1, it says, “Zechariahs sermon is easier to understand when the passage is read against the backdrop of history.”  Always remember that the first step to understanding prophecy is that you must keep in mind who is writing the prophecy, to whom is he writing the prophecy, what are the circumstances around the time of the writing and what things might be meaningful to individuals of that time that may not be as meaningful to us today.

Next, you must remember what the point of the prophecies in the prophetic books is.  The central point is that the “Prophets were the Protectors of the Covenant” (11.1B).  “Although the prophets often spoke of social injustice, the fundamental theme of their preaching is far more profound.  They called the people to remember their covenant with God.”

And what was this covenant?  Again I take from the text:

1.       If God’s people reject Him and turn to idols and sin God will punish them by taking them out of the land.

2.       If God’s people repent God will remember His covenant and fulfill His promises to their forefathers.