As we begin a new year, many believers renew their commitment to personal Bible study. Yet for many, the books of the Old Testament prophets can feel distant, difficult, or disconnected from everyday Christian living. Issue 55 of the Gospel Truth brings the prophets into clearer focus—revealing not only what they said, but who they were, why God called them, and how their messages still speak with power today.

The prophets were not self-appointed messengers. God Himself chose them, placed His word in their mouths, and sent them to speak in times of spiritual decline, national crisis, and moral confusion. Their task was often unpopular. They warned of judgment when people wanted comfort, called for repentance when hearts were hardened, and stood faithful even when rejected, persecuted, or misunderstood. Yet through them, God also spoke hope—reminding His people of His covenant faithfulness and pointing forward to redemption.

This issue highlights Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Micah, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk, presenting each prophet within his historical setting and spiritual burden. Readers are guided through the unique calling and message of each man—from Isaiah’s clear visions of the coming Messiah, to Jeremiah’s tearful pleas for repentance, to Ezekiel’s powerful visions among the exiles, and Daniel’s steadfast faithfulness in a foreign court. The issue also includes a helpful timeline that places the prophets within Israel’s history, making it easier to understand how their ministries relate to one another and to the unfolding purposes of God.

Rather than offering mere biographical facts, this issue aims to restore weight and meaning to the prophetic books themselves. When we understand the circumstances under which these men spoke—the pressure they faced, the sins they confronted, and the hope they proclaimed—their words come alive. Passages once skimmed begin to speak with fresh urgency. Warnings become personal. Promises become precious.

While this issue does not cover every Old Testament prophet, it provides a strong foundation, with the possibility of a future continuation. More importantly, it challenges readers to approach the prophetic writings not as distant history, but as God’s living word—spoken through willing vessels who heard His voice and obeyed without compromise.

May this study help renew a hunger for God’s word in the year ahead, deepen understanding, and encourage us, like the prophets of old, to listen carefully and respond faithfully when God speaks.