The prophets and prophetic literature account for a large percentage of the Bible. The last seventeen books of the Old Testament alone are largely prophetic.¹ As we approach reading this genre of Scripture, the following will help us navigate it well.

Covenant Stipulations

Two men stand before a judge. One protests that the other owes him money for a job he did a few months back at his home. The other denies his claims. What’s a judge to do? In this case, the judge must investigate if there is any contract or legal agreement that these two made. Then the judge can proceed to rule the case.

In a similar way the prophetic books are taking place in light of the covenant stipulations that God made with His people.² Exodus through Deuteronomy becomes the backdrop by which to understand the actions of God. He is acting according to His previous covenants and His people’s behavior in them (see Deut. 28). Knowing this helps us to judge passages correctly and see the glory of God in action.

The prophets are calling people back to the covenants of God and warning of covenant cursing’s if they do not. If one jumps right to prophetic passages of judgment without first knowing the context of God’s covenant, then God may be judged by others as tyrannical. But knowing the foundation of the relationship—salvation followed by covenant—puts God’s actions into a much brighter light. God has been extremely patient and now rightfully anger.

Knowing the covenant God warns and encourages us to remain faithful to God in the New Covenant that He has made with us. Therefore, as we read this genre, we are reminded of the importance and necessity of abiding in Jesus Christ (John 15:1–5). With every failure we see, we cling even tighter to Him.

Redemptive Historical Promises

Not only is God acting according to the Mosaic covenant, but He is also acting according to His overarching promises that came before. After the fall of man, God promised to raise up a seed from Adam’s line who would crush the serpent’s head. Later, He adds to this that all the nations will be blessed through Abraham (Gen. 12:3). Therefore, when God’s judgment comes forcefully in prophetic passages, we remember there is a much bigger plan of God taking place to redeem His people from their sins.

We get to see how God will remain faithful to all his covenants even in the face of rebellious people. That is an awesome story to witness—the righteous God who judges, yet who shows mercy. Thus, we should not be surprised that even in the most serious of judgment passages, there still comes hope and a future for God’s remnant. The book of Ezekiel bears this out. Even after many chapters on judgment, we find hope shining through in the brightest way (see 11:14–20 after chapters 1–11:13).

Knowing the historical redemptive promises of God should cause us to look forward as much as and even more than we look back in Scripture. Times and seasons will be dark, but God shines hope at the end of it all for those in Jesus Christ. Whatever cloud we may see over our heads, there is a shining ray of hope reigning sovereignly above it. Let us never forget the bigger picture our God is working out.

Christ

The Messiah comes into sharper focus with each passing prophetic book. The failures of God’s covenant people are paving the way for the true Israelite, Jesus Christ who will come and do what no human being could do—earn a righteous standing and sacrifice Himself on behalf of the sins of others.

As you read the prophetic genre, keep your eyes open to seeing the way in which they discovered the Messiah and looked forward to His coming. We live in hindsight, but it is a blessing to put yourself in their shoes and look forward to the first coming of Christ. This is good practice for when you read the prophetic genres towards the end of the Bible, for they prepare us for the second coming of Christ.

Knowing the Christ of all Scripture helps us to properly look back on Scripture and to look forward through it. Christ is central to the Scriptures, the prophetic genre, and the hope God is working out in the world. Thus, He must be central to our lives, for as Paul said (Gal. 2:20), “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Jesus is coming back. May the prophetic genre of Scripture encourage us to look forward and to be ready.