1. The VOICE of the prophet
The prophet’s voice was, quite simply, the voice of God.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways… Hebrews 1.1
Now when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt, he said to him, "I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you." But Moses said to the LORD, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?" Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country Exodus 5.28-6.2
The connection between the Lord voice and that of the prophet was made possible by the Spirit of God.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1.20,21
The authority of the prophet’s speaking is emphasised throughout the OT hence:
o a typical prophetic word was prefaced by ‘Thus says the Lord….’
o the prophet is often said to have ‘stood in the divine council or to have ‘stood before the Lord’ e.g. 1 Kings 22.19f, Jeremiah 23.18, 21-22
o prophetic ministry was usually preceded by a ‘call’ e.g. Isaiah 6.1-8
o a prophet was frequently known as ‘the man’ or ‘the servant of God’
o the authenticity of the relationship between the prophet and the Lord was what determined whether a prophet was true or false
The thought I would like us all to take away from all of this concerns the nature of the inspiration – the Spirit’s breathing - that gave rise to the prophetic word. These men (and women) spoke authoritatively for the Lord – which is why we should listen to what they have so say - but they each did so in their own unique way and in line with their own personalities and circumstances. In other words, God’s Spirit did not operate like some sort of celestial Wi Fi or Bluetooth whereby the prophet was simply a mouthpiece for the word of God. Rather the Lord worked through the individual prophet to deliver His message.
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1.20,21
The word used implies being blown along.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways… Hebrews 1.1
When we come to appreciate this, it
o firstly, makes scripture – and the God who inspired it – far more exciting. He had a lot of 'attacking options' and, like Alex Ferguson, used them all.
o secondly, raises the thought that maybe God’s work in our church life should have more variety c.f. Pentecost
2. The VISION of the prophet
The prophets, then, spoke a ‘word from the Lord’, but to what end? What was the aim and purpose of their speaking?
Basically it was twofold:
o Criticism
The prophet movement arose as counter to the abuse of power by vested interests – usually the kings - of Israel and Judah. IN other words, they are closely linked to the development of the monarchy e.g.
o who can forget Elijah as the ‘troubler’ of Israel and his encounters with Ahab and Jezebel?
o or Nathan as the accuser of David – ‘you are the man!’
o or Jeremiah and his battles with his fellow priests
o etc
A role reprised by the political interviewer today?
c.f. Radio 4 interview with Harriet Harman
They also sought to act as a check on the corruption in society occasioned by the drift away from God and towards self-interest, as people forget the Lord who had brought the nation into being and abandoned the instruction He had given for the well being of His people and for the good of the world e.g.
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5.24
He has shown all you people what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6.8
Theirs was, then, a call to repentance. Sadly, it was never heard
For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighbouring peoples. Nehemiah 9.??
o Comfort
But prophets were not simply ‘doom and gloom’ merchants
c.f. Private Frazer in Dad's Army
Mainly, but not exclusively, during the Exile and in the period following the prophets spoke words of hope and re-assurance to a people who had been shattered by the disaster of the loss of the land, the temple, and every else that they held dear and gave meaning to their lives. This was the other string to the prophetic ‘bow’ e.g.
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins Isaiah 40.1,2
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour. Habakkuk 3.17-19
c.f. also Ezekiel 39, Jeremiah 33 etc
Summarising, then, the prophets to use the well worn phrase ‘afflicted the comfortable and comforted the afflicted’ the difference in the message being related to the circumstances in which they ministered and with, at all times, the ‘big picture’ being the Lord’s ongoing purposes.
There is a huge amount to learn from all of this. What I will take away and reflect on is
o firstly, the courage of the prophets. They never shied away from asking the hard question
o secondly,their zeal for God e.g. Eli - Jah
o thirdly, their concern for social justice
Stott poem
o fourthly, the need for wisdom in our dealings with others – when is the hard word appropriate and when the word of comfort?
3. The VOCATION of the prophet
Today is Vocation Sunday, in other words, a time when the church encourages people to think about their call to ministry – in part the licensed or ordained ministry, in part the ministry to which we are all called by virtue of baptism and confirmation.
In what did the prophetic vocation consist?
o anonymity
o abuse
o stress & anxiety
o rejection
o apparent failure
etc
Quote from Wright p.81
Not dissimilar to baptism!
However, this is a job that needs doing and Christians should be doing it and I’m not sure that we are. Not that we are prophets in the OT sense, that our words will be written down for future generations, but guided by the scriptures and filled by the Spirit, we are called to speak God’s word both in the church and in the world.
'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2.17f
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