Sunday School Lady explains the different types of oracles the prophets used to warn Israel. From Buck Denver Asks What’s in the Bible? Volume 9: God Speaks! [Isaiah, Jeremiah & The Prophets].
SUNDAY SCHOOL LADY
An INDICTMENT oracle tells someone what they’ve done wrong – sort of like a judge telling you in court that you didn’t stop at a stop sign, and that’s why you’re in trouble!
A JUDGMENT oracle says what will happen as a RESULT of the bad things you’ve done – since you didn’t stop at the stop sign, you have to pay a $100 fine! A judgment has been made against you!
An INSTRUCTION oracle is a little different. Instead of giving a judgment – the judge just gives a warning and says, “Maybe you didn’t know this, but you’re SUPPOSED to stop at stop signs!” There aren’t many instruction oracles in the Old Testament, because all the instructions the Israelites needed were already given to them in the books of Moses – the Pentateuch. They KNEW what they were supposed to be doing!
