Biblical prophecy in the Old Testament grows in significant part out of the evidence of profound spiritual need among the mass of people. Old Testament prophecies provide a cosmic, universal explanation for the decline of the Jewish people. In the books of Amos and Hosea, for example, the theme is that the decline is caused by the Jews' loss of religious faith. Hosea explains how Israel will be punished and, finally, how it can be saved--essentially by rejecting the false gods and the moral values that they imply and returning to God. Amos makes a similar case (Hosea 5:8; Amos 2:4-6).
Prophets have authority based on God's promise of the land of Canaan to Abram and to Jacob/Israel and his people--a special gift. All the Israelites have to do in return is remain faithful to him. By the time of Hosea and Amos, the Jews have disregarded the compact altogether, and their kingdoms are falling: "There is no fidelity, no mercy, no knowledge of God" (Hosea 4:1). Sacrificing to Baal is the rule of the day. The text has God reminding Israel of the divine power that led the people out of Egypt (Hosea 13:8), only to see them forget about God. Amos says that God spoke to him, saying that the "time is ripe to have done with my people Israel; I will forgive them no longer. . . . I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentations" (Amos 8:3, 10). This is divine justice, which will "surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream" (Amos 5:24).
Hosea and Amos are examples of biblical prophets who position themselves as dutiful agents of God. That is one way of describing a ministerial function. Other Old Testament prophets focus more intently on prophecy as ministry, such that ministry is conceptualized as a role for an abject servant of God who also provides service to fellow human beings. The idea of the servant of God who fulfills a mission is expressed at Isaiah 53:10, which anticipates the appearance of the Ano...