The Progress of Revelation in the Old Testament

Van Groningen

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2006
• eBook ISBN: 9781498276320
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

Two issues in particular engaged me [when studying in seminary and graduate school]. Did God, the sovereign covenant Lord, actually communicate with men in human language? And did this Lord actually enable men to infallibly record in writing what he had made known to them?... The result was that I increasingly realized that unless I had confidence that the Scriptures were authentic, authoritative, and wholly reliable I would not have the certainty and conviction needed for preaching and teaching truths that I and all other sinful persons required for the assurance of the forgiveness of sin, salvation and God-honoring service. This book is, in a real sense, my answer to the questions I wrestled with initially. It is a testimony to the assurance and peace I had as I taught in Christian educational institutions. --from the Preface

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Progress of Revelation through Five Early Prophets

I. Prophets During Upheavals in Israel

Samuel had served as a prophet during the time he served as the last “judge” in Israel. Others served, as for example, Nathan in the time of David.

A. A Man of God and Ahijah

A prophet, referred to only as “A man of God” spoke against Jereboam and was killed by a lion when another old prophet living in Bethel misdirected the “man of God” (1 Kings 13:1-32). Ahijah had served in the last days of Solomon (11:29-30) and in the time of king Jereboam (14:12-16). These prophets worked during unsettled times and spoke the word of Yahweh concerning Yahweh’s manner of dealing with unfaithful prophets and kings. Ahijah prophesied the downfall of Jereboam’s royal family.

B. Jehu the Prophet

The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the prophet. It was against Baasha who had assassinated king Jereboam’s son. He took the throne over Israel. He killed all of Jereboam’’ descendants as had been prophesied by Ahijah (15:29). The word of Yahweh made clear why Baasha was under Yahweh God’s judgement. He had followed Jereboam’s sinful ways, caused Israel to sin and provoked God’s anger (16:1-7). The kings who followed, Elah, Zimri and Omri, were characterized as guilty of disobedience and idol worship. It is written that Ahab, induced by his wife Jezebel, sold himself to do evil in the eyes of Yahweh God (21:25). The wickedness of these Israelite kings set the historic stage for Elijah’s presence and work.

II. Progressive Revelation Through Elijah1

Elijah was the leading prophet during the reign of Ahab and immediately after his death. It is recorded that the word of Yahweh God came to Elijah and that the Angel of Yahweh spoke to him.

Yahweh God protected Elijah after he had revealed Yahweh’s plan to bring in a drought during Ahab’s reign (1 Kgs 17:1-5). Then Yahweh had him increase oil and flour for a widow (17:13-14) and raise her dead son. Elijah was commanded to meet Ahab to assure him Yahweh God would end the severe drought (18:1-45). The Mt. Carmel episode took place in this context. Yahweh God revealed his presence through Elijah, and through fire and the water soaked altar and the rain that fell.

An angel appeared ...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• I: Stating the Case
• II: Revelation in Creation
• III: Progress of Revelation in the Fall and Promise
• IV: Progress of Revelation in the Time of Noah
• V: Progress of Revelation in the Patriarchal Period
• VI: Progress of Revelation in the Mosaic Period I
• VII: Progress of Revelation in the Mosaic Period II
• VIII: Progress of Revelation during the Period from Joshua to David
• IX: Progress of Revelation in the Period of David and Solomon’s Reign
• X: Progress of Revelation through Five Early Prophets
• XI: Progress of Revelation from 837–725 BC
• XII: Three Prophets from 782–695 BC
• XIII: Five Prophets in the Period before the Exile of Judah
• XIV: Progress of Revelation Received in Exile
• XV: Progress of Revelation in the Post-Exilic Era