8. Discuss the relationships of the prophets of Ancient Israel with the throne (government), the temple (religion), and the people (society).
The prophets of Ancient Israel were the “spokesmen” of God. By God’s power, they spoke God’s words according to God’s commands. Prophets were very important; the destiny of the Israelites was decided by how they listened to the prophets, their reflection of God’s words. God spoke to the Ancient Israelites through the prophets. God permitted the Israelites (people) to know what He has prepared for human beings, the grace to complete the people. The prophets declared the people’s descent, corruption. They spread the message that the people needed to repent. The prophets rebuked the people according to The Law. When the prophets saw the Israelites worship idols, commit sins; they blamed them including the rulers (government) bravely. The purpose of God’s giving The Law to Israelites is to tell them they have committed sins, but the people didn’t recognize their sins, they violated knowingly. And they were pride because they had The Law other nations didn’t have. So God blamed them through prophets. The most important message of the prophets is to prophesy Jesus Christ’ coming to settle the problem of man’s sins. So the religion should point to the coming Savior: Jesus Christ. But the Israelites made a serious mistake, their ideas about the coming messiah are wrong, they limited God’s plan to their narrow nationalism. Until today the Jewish people believe The Law can save them. Of course The Law is God’s unchangeable words, but the function of The Law is not to save people from their sins; but to tell them they have committed sins, and lead them the Savior: Jesus Christ, so it is almost impossible for Jewish people to believe in Jesus Christ. So the prophets’ words is one of the two foundations of the only true religion: Christianity. From Bible, we can find, if the kings (government) committed sins, the prophets would rebuke them; they spoke with the authority from God, although they didn’t have military, political power, they rebuked the people, the government, the religion in God’s name bravely. The prophets of Ancient Israel was the spokesmen of God to tell God’s words to the throne (government), the temple (religion), and the people (society).
