"A Minor Key" 1 Kings 18: 21-40; 2 Kings 2: 1-18

First sermon of the summer series on the minor prophets.  Actually, this week's sermon sets the stage for the minor prophets by looking at prophecy in general through the stories of Elijah and Elisha.

I think this passage sums up the challenge the prophets have for the Israelites:  I Kings 18: 21 (The Message:  Elijah challenged the people: “How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow him; if it’s Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!” Nobody said a word; nobody made a move.

I think a legitimate question for the Israelites and for us is: How do you know if the person talking is really a prophet from God?

I think, in part, a prophet has these attributes

     a. Focuses on God, not other gods.

     b. Probably has a reprimand on his (or her) tongue.

      c.  Has a great story to tell.

This week I have the following info in the bulletin for the gathered congregation to peruse.  I might have one of these each week on the minor prophet being discussed.  I could use the screen in the Sanctuary service, but having something to take home might be good.

Prophecy

1. Role of prophet: “...the prophet, speaking under the influence of Yahweh's spirit, was able to interpret the meaning of evens and to proclaim the will of God in concrete terms” (Understanding the Old Testament. Anderson, Bernhard (253).

2. Major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel. They are called the “major” prophets because their books are longer and lengthier and cover a longer time span. In Israelite history (see https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2011/06/tour-of-the-bible-part-4-the-major-prophets/ for a short synopsis).

3. Twelve minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. They are called “minor” because they are short in length and cover a very narrow time span in Israelite history.

4. In general, minor prophets include three types of material:

• Autobiographical material in the first person, some of which may go back to the prophet in question;
• Biographical materials about the prophet in the third person – which incidentally demonstrate that the collection and editing of the books was completed by persons other than the prophets themselves;
• Oracles or speeches by the prophets, usually in poetic form, and drawing on a wide variety of genres, including covenant lawsuit, oracles against the nations, judgment oracles, messenger speeches, songs, hymns, narrative, lament, law, proverb, symbolic gesture, prayer, wisdom saying, and vision (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Minor_Prophets#CITEREFCoogan2009 for more details).

Elijah

1. One of the first prophets mentioned by name.
2. He does not have a book named after him.
3. The Elijah cycle of stories are found in I Kings 17-2 Kings 2
4. Elijah means “Yahweh is my God,” and he serves as a zealous prophetic champion of the Mosaic faith (Anderson, 274).
5. Elijah battled with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel

Elisha

1. Succeeded Elijah as prophet of the Israelites
2. The Elisha stories are found in 1 Kings 19 – 2 Kings 9
3. Elisha asked for a a “double-portion” of Elijah's spirit
4. Elisha cycle full of what are called “wonder” stories that delighted the popular imagination (Understanding the Old Testament. Anderson, Bernhard (253).

Reflection question: Who speaks in our world today that you believe shares God's Word for you?

What signs make you believe that word is from God?