Prophets, Intercession, and the City of Blood
May 12, 2019      |     By: Nasser al'Qahtani      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) Study Primer
- Identify the contextual anchors
- Literary analysis (define units, identify repetition and wordplay)
- Look for direct symmetry of inversion

The City of Blood Symbol
Nahum 3:1
1 Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder - no end to the prey!

Habakkuk 2:12
12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!

Ezekiel 9:9
9 Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice.  For they say ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’”

Genesis 4: A Tale of Two Intercessors
- Cain, Abel and Offerings
    Fruit of the Flock - Living in the Genesis 1:28 Commission (Blessing)
       vs
    Fruit of the Ground - Living in the Genesis 3:17 Judgement (Curse)
- The Keeper of the Blessing is killed by the Worker of the Curse (who goes on to build the first city of blood)

The Prophetic Role of Intercession
City of Blood Type - scene:
1. Eden Setup (Humans living in Blessing).
2. Human violence escalates, creating an “outcry” to God for justice.
3. God (temporarily) postpones judgement, but raises up a chosen human (often a prophet to bring rescue.
4. The chosen human is called on to make intercession/sacrifice.
5. God responds to the outcome.

Case Studies: Moses and Elijah
= Moses on Sinai - Exodus 32
 - Previously, Egypt played the role of the City of Blood. The Israelites cried out to God who raised up Moses to plead with Egypt/Pharaoh. Egypt is judged and Israel is
redeemed and saved.
 - Now Israel has sinned greatly and Moses must once again intercede . . .
= Elijah on Sinai - 1 Kings 19
 - Previously, Israel played the role of the City of Blood. Those loyal to YHWH cried out to God who raised up Elijah to plead with Israel/Ahab. Some people repent, but the
King Ahab (and Queen Jezebel) do not.
 - Instead of continuing to intercede for Israel, Elijah runs away . . .

Final Case Study: Johah
= Jonah outside Nineveh - Jonah 4
 - Assyria is an Empire of Blood.  Many nations cry out to God who raised up Jonah to plead with Assyria/Nineveh. Nineveh repents and is saved from judgement, but
Jonah is angry . . .
 - Does Nineveh “deserve” mercy?
 - A reminder the reality of God’s mercy, grace, love and faithfulness.
 - A mirror of our own desperate need for this amazing God.

How Jesus is the Greatest
 - Hebrews 7:23-28
 - The “Prophetic Pictures” of Noah, Abraham, Moses and all the others are fulfilled in Christ who has made the final and ultimate sacrifice and offers continuous
intercession for people living in the City of Blood.
 - The prophetic calling of the Church is to recognize her place beside Jesus in the heavens and join him in making intercession and offering our own sacrifice of
obedience to his will/agenda.