The books of the prophets are a deep well of spiritual knowledge. As God’s spokesmen they uttered forth His will on a variety of subjects from the wickedness of idolatry to the evils of unjust leadership and the coming Messiah. There is much to learn from their work. One of the greatest subjects addressed throughout the prophets is the subject of God, Himself. As men of God they spent time with God and knew Him intimately. Thus their inspired pens wrote much about His character. Consider, briefly, a few of the characteristics of God as described by the prophets.
His Holiness
Holiness has to do with “set-apart-ness.” It is distinction from the common and profane. It is “the quality which marks off the divine nature, setting God apart from all else, making him the Being that He is.” When granted entrance into the throne room of Heaven, the prophet Isaiah heard the seraphim cry “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (Isa. 6:3). The threefold pronouncement is for the sake of emphasis–a superlative! “God is completely, totally, absolutely, the holiest of the holy.” Sin and iniquity cannot dwell in His presence (Hab. 1:13). He is the “Holy one of Israel” (Isa. 41:14). His Name is holy (Isa. 57:15; Eze. 39:25), His dwelling place is holy (Isa. 57:15; Joel 3:17), His temple is holy (Jonah 2:4; Hab. 2:20), and all of His actions are holy (Isa. 5:16; Dan. 9:14-16). The prophets proclaimed the “Holy, holy, holy” nature of our God!
His Justice and Righteousness
God’s justice has to do with God’s ability to judge impartially and His righteousness has to do with His “moral rightness.” God will always do what is absolutely right in conjunction with His great holiness. “The Lord is a God of justice” (Isa. 30:18). He will be “exalted In judgment” and “hallowed in righteousness” (Isa. 5:16). Jeremiah wrote, “I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth” (Jer. 9:24). God does no wrong (Zeph. 3:5). He is our judge (Isa. 33:22) but will always judge, and do, what is right (Jer. 17:10).
His Patience
The patience, or long-suffering of God, is the attribute which allows Him to forbear and withhold punishment from His people. Because He is patient with us, He does not treat us as we deserve. Joel described God as “slow to anger” (Joel 2:13). Jonah prayed, “I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness” (Jonah 4:2). Jeremiah spoke of God’s “enduring patience” (Jer. 15:13). The Lord’s patience is seen in His delaying of punishment. “I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself” (Isa. 42:14). Of Israel He said, “Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness” (Eze. 20:17). Yet, His patience must not be confused with indifference and it does not last forever. People can test His patience (Mal. 2:17) and though He is “slow to anger” He “will not at all acquit the wicked” (Nah. 1:3).
His Wrath
The Old Testament uses 6 different Hebrew terms to describe the anger or wrath of God. It has to do with God’s absolute opposition to sin and evil. It is His reaction, governed by and consistent with His holiness, justice, and righteousness, to sin. Nahum wrote, “God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked” (Nah. 1:2-3). The earth trembles at His wrath (Jer. 10:10). His wrath is like a fire (Isa. 9:19) and it is fierce (Nah. 1:6). He is angry with idolatry (Jer. 32:29), pride (Mal. 4:1), and injustice (Zech. 7:9-12). Nothing and no one can stand before the day of His wrath (Zeph. 1:18).
Romans 15:4 reminds us that the Old Testament is useful for our learning. Much of what we learn about God we learn from the Old Testament. These, and many other, attributes of our God are explored deeply within the books of the prophets. May their words draw us closer to our Father in Heaven.