Key Concepts

Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to the World of Prophecy!

Ever listened to the news and heard a weather forecaster predict heavy rains? Or maybe a wise elder in your community warned about a coming challenge? In a way, they are doing something similar to what the Old Testament prophets did. But the prophets had a direct line to the ultimate source: God Himself! Today, we are going to unlock the "big words" or key concepts that will make understanding the prophecies as clear as the view from Mount Kenya on a sunny day. Let's begin!

1. Prophecy (Utabiri)

When we hear the word 'prophecy', we often think of predicting the future, like saying who will win the next football match. While that's part of it (predictive prophecy), it's so much more! A prophecy is a message from God, delivered by a prophet, for the people of that specific time.

It had two main flavours:

• Forth-telling: This was the most common type! It was about telling forth God's message for the present. The prophet would look at the society, see the corruption, injustice, or worship of idols, and say, "Hey! This is not right! God wants you to change your ways NOW!"
• Fore-telling: This is the future-predicting part. Prophets would announce God's plans, like the coming of a great king (the Messiah) or a time of judgment.

Think of it like a simple formula. To understand what a prophecy is, you can use this "Prophetic Equation":

    Step 1: God's Divine Message (The Source)
         +
    Step 2: The Prophet's Voice (The Messenger)
         +
    Step 3: The People's Situation (The Context)
    ================================================
    RESULT: Prophecy (A call for Repentance / A Promise of Hope)

2. Prophet (Nabii)

So, who was the person delivering these powerful messages? The Prophet or Nabii in Swahili. A prophet was not a magician or a fortune-teller who looked into a crystal ball. A prophet was God's spokesperson, His mouthpiece.

Imagine the government wants to make a major announcement. They don't all come out to speak; they send a trusted Government Spokesperson. The spokesperson delivers the exact message they were given. That was the prophet's job: to speak for God. They were the bridge between God and the people.

   +---------+        +-------------+        +----------+
   |   GOD   | =====> |   PROPHET   | =====> |  PEOPLE  |
   +---------+        +-------------+        +----------+
   (The Message      (The Messenger)        (The Audience)
     Origin)

Kenyan Example: Think of the great environmentalist, the late Professor Wangari Maathai. When she spoke about the dangers of cutting down trees, she was a "prophet" for the environment, warning people about the future consequences of their present actions. Old Testament prophets did the same, but their message was from God concerning the spiritual and moral life of the people.

3. Covenant (Agano)

This is a very important word! A covenant is not just a simple promise or a contract. It's a deep, binding, sacred agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament, the most important covenants were between God and His people. It's a relationship agreement.

Key features of a covenant:

• It involves promises from both sides.
• There are blessings for keeping it and curses for breaking it.
• It is often sealed with a sign or a ritual (e.g., circumcision for the Abrahamic covenant).

Kenyan Example: The process of ruracio (dowry negotiation) in some of our communities is a type of covenant. It's not just about paying money; it's a solemn agreement that binds two families together, with witnesses, promises, and serious commitments. The biblical covenants were like that, but on a divine scale with God!

Image Suggestion:

A powerful, dramatic painting showing Moses on a misty Mount Sinai, holding up two stone tablets glowing with faint light. Below him, the Israelites are looking up in awe and reverence. The style should be realistic but with a divine, golden glow emanating from the sky.

4. Messiah (Masihi)

The word Messiah comes from the Hebrew word 'Mashiach', which means "Anointed One." In ancient Israel, kings and priests were anointed with oil as a sign that they were chosen by God for a special task. The prophecies started speaking of a future, ultimate Anointed One – a perfect king from the line of David who would come to save Israel, establish justice, and rule forever. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of these messianic prophecies.

5. The Remnant (Mabaki)

When the prophets warned of judgment and destruction, it sounded very scary! But there was always a message of hope, and that hope was tied to the concept of the Remnant. The remnant was the small group of faithful Israelites who would survive the judgment. God would not wipe everyone out; He would preserve this small group to carry on His covenant and rebuild the nation.

Real-world Scenario: Imagine a great fire sweeps through a forest, burning most of the trees. But here and there, a few strong, healthy trees survive. These surviving trees (the remnant) will produce the seeds for a new forest to grow. In the same way, the faithful remnant of Israel was the seed of hope for the future.

Noah and his family were the remnant that survived the flood. Lot and his daughters were the remnant that survived the destruction of Sodom. It's a powerful theme of God's faithfulness even in judgment.

6. The Day of the Lord (Siku ya Bwana)

This sounds like a specific date on the calendar, but it's much bigger. The Day of the Lord refers to a time of God's direct and powerful intervention in human history. For the wicked and the unfaithful, it would be a day of darkness, fear, and judgment. But for the righteous and the faithful remnant, it would be a day of salvation, victory, and restoration.

It's a day of ultimate accountability, where God settles the score and makes all things right.

    THE DAY OF THE LORD

          /       \
         /         \
    +-----------+   +-------------+
    | JUDGMENT  |   |  SALVATION  |
    |-----------|   |-------------|
    | For the   |   | For the     |
    | Wicked &  |   | Righteous & |
    | Unfaithful|   | the Remnant |
    +-----------+   +-------------+

There you have it! These six concepts are your keys to understanding the powerful messages of the Old Testament prophets. When you read about a prophecy, ask yourself: Who is the prophet? What is the covenant being broken or fulfilled? Is it talking about the Messiah, the Remnant, or the coming Day of the Lord? Keep revising these ideas, and you'll be an expert in no time. You've got this! Kazi nzuri!