COMMON THEMES FROM ANCIENT AND MODERN PROPHETS: THE NEED TO AFFIRMATIVELY SEEK LOVE, JUSTICE, AND MERCY By Jacqueline Taylor. A review of the writings of Micah and Isaiah reveals common elements of these two prophets. messages imploring Israel to make a drastic correction of their thinking and conduct. Each of these prophets presented in their prophecies the principles upon which the Israelites were to aspire: the people of God must actively pursue love, justice, and mercy. Active pursuit of love, justice, and mercy was a timeless message preached by not only Isaiah and Micah, but also as imperatively, in the twentieth century by the prophets, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr. A useful definition of a prophet is found in the …show more content…
the duty of those who love God being required to pursue steadfast love, mercy, and justice. These important spiritual principles were not only their mantra, but also became guiding principles and proclamations of two twentieth century prophets: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr. Collectively, and individually, these four (4) prophets exemplified the message that actively pursuing steadfast love, justice, and mercy must be preached by prophets of each generation as a timeless spiritual aspiration which forms an important cornerstone of which the world must constantly be reminded and …show more content…
The Israelites willingly accepted proclamations of prophets which confirmed Yahweh?s protection and judgment in accordance with these traditions. There was a change, however, in the dynamic of the judgment which Isaiah preached to Israel concerning Yahweh. Yahweh is now sitting in judgment of Israel, based upon the transgressions of the people. Yahweh is not pleased with Israel?s turning away from his laws and imperatives that the poor and vulnerable not be oppressed. The people have been found to have violated Yahweh's commands, and now Yahweh is speaking through his prophet (Isaiah) in judgment of Israel and in condemnation of their oppression and neglect of the poor and