Status Updates From Themes and Transformations ...

The prophet as embodiment of "the chariots of Israel and its horsemen" is a good observation, demonstrated in the prophet's military advisory role to the king. This is predicated upon the reality that YHWH himself is the defense of Israel and the prophet as councilor has access to these forces. As noted with other aspects of the prophet, this recedes in post-exile.

Meier presents an excellent overview of the notion of prophets as king-makers in Israel's history, and how the removal of the monarchy at exile transformed the role of prophet. He makes good connections between prophet as anointer of the king and John's baptism of Jesus. These concepts are not new for me, but they are well presented here.

The chapter on historical prophetic shift from poetry to prose is extremely interesting. Highly recommended reading. Meier proceeds to trace the development of the prophetic from an oral emphasis to a written one. While in both chapters I feel he slightly overstates his case and downplays exceptions, I believe he is successful in demonstrating these general developments as deriving from the texts.

Chapter 4 is fascinating. Meier shows that the latter prophets demonstrate far less insight into what God was revealing to them than the former. Jeremiah is able to discern the important point of a vision, but Zechariah throws his hands up in bewilderment. I am not sure what to make of it yet, but I surmise it is connected with the glory (and thus the Spirit) of the Lord leaving Israel at the exile.

Meier presents some interesting observations in the development of prophetic word. Unfortunately he reads it as an evolution from a sort of open theism to a determinism in God's plan. Don't know if he will mitigate later, but that is how it is being presented thus far.