PROPHETSCity Gates Church 5th March 2017

OVERVIEW1. INTRODUCTION

2. TYPES OF PROPHETS3. WHAT DID PROPHETS GIVE?

4. WHAT PROPHETS DID NOT DO5. WHAT PROPHETS DID DO6. WHAT ABOUT US TODAY?

1. INTRODUCTION As we look through the history of Israel in our current series as we think about God’s “Mission Impossible?”, we will see that prophets were an essential part of what YaHWeH was doing in and through his people Israel, and to the world at large.In order to avoid any misunderstanding, I will say right at the outset that those prophets included both men and women, as well as the occasional donkey.In order to understand what those prophets of Israel were, and what they were not, we need to look back and see what the Scriptures, history, and their culture tell us and understand why these people were used in the ways that they were used.We also need to think carefully about how the people of Israel actually received their prophets – or not, as the case may be.Prophets (of various kinds) were common across the known world in those days – and so this morning I am speaking primarily about YaHWeH’s prophets of Israel.I will come later to look at what made YaHWeH’s prophets in Israel different from all the other prophets in the world then.The Hebrew term most commonly translated into English as ‘prophet’ means ‘One called (of God)’, but it was also used to refer to a speaker (for God), a preacher (for God), or a spokesperson (for God).

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There were also older Old Testament terms for prophets and they referred mainly to ‘seers’ – people who had the ability to see what was invisible to others, and to know what was unknown to others; both especially in relation to divine will.The revelation that YaHWeH gave to his prophets enabled them to understand and to know YaHWeH and his ways so that they could better fulfil the purposes that he had given to them.Israel’s prophets were people who had special encounters with YaHWeH either once or on an ongoing basis and, as a result of those encounters, they received revelations of various kinds directly from YaHWeH.

[See Numbers 22:8,9 and 1 Kings 22:14]The Lord GOD apparently took prophecy really quite seriously, at least according to Amos:AMOS 3:7,87Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. 8The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?Those messages from the Lord GOD came to the prophets in many different ways: Dreams, visions, ecstatic experiences, voices, nature, animals, life parables, and so on.

[See Numbers 12:6, 1 Samuel 3:3-9, 1 Kings 13:18-22, Isaiah 1:1, Ezekiel 3:12-14]

What I am calling a life parable is simply an example from everyday life that was used by the Lord GOD to bring revelation and understanding to a prophet or prophets.[Jesus did exactly the same thing as he told parables based on birds, trees, flowers, bread and so on.]I am going to pause briefly here in order to give you one example of how the Lord GOD used a life parable with one of his prophets in order to bring the prophet revelation and understanding that would help him to fulfil the task that had been given to him.

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As I give you that example of a life parable prophecy, I will do so as I ask this question: Can underpants be prophetic?JEREMIAH 13:1-111Thus said YaHWeH to me, "Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth, and put it on your loins, but do not dip it in water." 2So I bought a loincloth according to the word of YaHWeH, and put it on my loins. 3And the word of YaHWeH came to me a second time, saying, 4"Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go now to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock." 5So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as YaHWeH commanded me. 6And after many days YaHWeH said to me, "Go now to the Euphrates, and take from there the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there." 7Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and I took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it. But now the loincloth was ruined; it was good for nothing. 8Then the word of YaHWeH came to me: 9Thus says YaHWeH: Just so I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own will and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing. 11For as the loincloth clings to one's loins, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says YaHWeH, in order that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory. But they would not listen.Whatever the prophets received from YaHWeH never belonged to them (not even Jeremiah owned his underpants) – but the prophecy was always the property of YaHWeH and not the property of his prophets.The messages brought by the prophets took many forms, and here are some of those different forms:

Proclamation of divine judgement (2 Kings 1:6) Divine salvation (2 Kings 20:6) Judgement and salvation (Isaiah 65:7,8) Oracles of woe (Isaiah 5:8-23)

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Assurance (Jeremiah 30:10,11) Admonitions to people (Amos 4:4,5) Judicial speeches (Hosea 4:1-3) Symbolic drama acts (Isaiah 20:2-4 and Jeremiah 28:10) Forthtelling what was to happen (Ezekiel 20:45-48)

I want now to show you another way that a message was brought home through one of the prophets by a life parable, this time through the prophet Hosea:HOSEA 1:2When YaHWeH first spoke through Hosea, YaHWeH said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking YaHWeH."Had we been there at that time, we would probably have tended to call what that prophet did ‘sin’, but it was actually divine prophecy in action.Perhaps today we should very careful about judging how some people obey God in Christ, and we should avoid criticizing people who believe that they are doing what YaHWeH required.All of Israel’s prophets spoke of YaHWeH’s behalf and with his authority through the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit who filled them and anointed them.It is important to understand that the verb ‘to prophesy’ does not in itself mean ‘to predict the future’, but rather its primary meaning is simply to ‘do the work of a prophet’, which, in Israel in those days, was to be someone who spoke or acted on behalf of YaHWeH.The stories of Israel’s prophets often ended in disappointment or even tragedy because their faithful proclamation of the revelation that they had been given often led to the people rejecting the prophets and ostracizing them, or worse.The prophets throughout Israel’s history were often not identified by name – indicating that the message given was of more importance than the person who gave it.

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THE PRIESTS REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE TO Y a HW e H; THE PROPHETS REPRESENTED Y a HW e H TO THE PEOPLE. [It would be important to realize that not every scholar believed that Israel’s prophets were unique in the world.][Von Rad, for example, maintained that the prophets were never as original, nor as individualistic, nor in such direct communication with God as they were often believed to be, but rather that they were conditioned by old traditions which they re-interpreted and applied to their own times.][Von Rad claimed that research had ‘clearly shown’ that the prophets were much more directly involved in concepts common to the ancient east, in cult and in myth, and even in what were termed primitive ‘magical’ ideas.][Von Rad essentially wrote off Israel’s former prophets by declaring that real prophecy only began to make its voice heard through Elijah and Elisha, and so prophecy only arose at a fairly advanced stage in Israel’s faith and worship.][Childs, writing in 1985, talked of an Old Testament prophet as being supernaturally equipped by God to predict the future; yet, in exactly the same book, he declares that those original prophets were primarily forthtellers (sic) not foretellers.][Fritsch believed that the main function of a prophet was that of “reviving and strengthening the people’s faith in YaHWeH.”][Likewise, Payne said that the eighth century prophets as a whole distinguished themselves as preachers who condemned the sins of errant Israel and Judah and who sought, under threat of invasion from without, to recall them to Yahweh and to his covenantal requirements.][Lindblom declared that “The special gift of the prophet is his (sic) ability to experience the divine in an original way and to receive revelations from the divine world.”][Lindblom went on to say, “It is important to note that prophecy was not regarded in Israel as magic art as it was in other countries, but was founded on special revelations from YaHWeH – and it was only Israel’s prophets who claimed to hear from this one true God.”][Lindblom also highlighted an issue that many pass over without comment, when he said, “Music seems to have been

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the most prominent means of evoking ecstasy among the early Old Testament prophets.”]2. TYPES OF PROPHETS The prophets of Israel themselves were of various kinds and from different walks of life.Some were itinerants like Elijah and Elisha, some formed groups or schools of prophets, some were localised, some were acting as reformers who were calling Israel back to the divine covenant, and so on and so on.Let’s look at how the prophets have been classified, and understand why they were classified as they were. MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS.

‘Major’ and ‘Minor’ have nothing whatever to do with the relative importance of the prophets and their messages, but rather they simply refer to those prophets with a lot of writings and those prophets with little writings.

FORMER PROPHETSThe books of the former prophets were written anonymously (e.g. Joshua, Judges, books of Samuel and of Kings) and the history that they contain was selected in order to show how YaHWeH was at work in and for his people.

LATTER (WRITING) PROPHETSThe latter prophets were not anonymous and included Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel and they were given prophecy that was relevant not only to their time period and situation, but also for the generations that followed – both Jew and Gentile.

SCHOOLS OF PROPHETSFor the encouragement and spiritual welfare of the nation, bands of prophets were raised up (such as Isaiah) and they were later called ‘Sons of the prophets’ and, for example, those schools were supportive of Elijah and Elisha.

FALSE PROPHETS

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What YaHWeH gave and created has always been plagued by imitators who claimed to have received a message or messages from YaHWeH, but who were proved sooner or later to be both deceived and deceiving.

3. WHAT DID PROPHETS GIVE? When thinking about the prophets, the most important consideration is not about the revelations that they gave, but rather the source that those revelations came from. That is why discernment about prophecy of any kind is so

vitally important for any group of Christians today. True prophecy that flows from YaHWeH today always seeks

to bring people closer to YaHWeH and to show them who they are in Christ.

False prophets have a quite different agenda.For the prophets of ancient Israel, all prophecy was purposed to bring the people back into an intimacy of relationship with YaHWeH so that, both as individuals and as a nation, they would know him and follow his ways. Even the hard words and the warnings that were given by

some prophets were designed to bring people closer to YaHWeH – and not to drive them away from him.

Such divine revelation from the prophets would usually fall into one (or more) of three categories:1. REVELATION OF THE HEART OF YaHWeH.2. REVELATION OF THE MIND OF YaHWeH.3. REVELATION OF THE WILL OF YaHWeH.When you look at those three categories, one thing is very obvious – and that is that the prophets had to be in an intimate relationship with YaHWeH themselves in order to receive such revelations from him.In other words, the prophet’s message to the people was not merely ‘Do as I say’, but rather ‘Do as I show you how to do’.As we look back into the Old Testament and consider YaHWeH’s prophets of old, we can apply the same kind of tests

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to their prophecy as we can to any prophecy that may be given today.After the primary test of the source of prophecy with regard to source, come the three categories I mentioned above.1. REVELATION OF THE HEART OF YaHWeH.

Prophecy may reveal how YaHWeH was moved by something or someone.Prophecy may reveal how YaHWeH was touched by something or someone.Prophecy may reveal how YaHWeH felt about something or someone.GENESIS 6:5,65YaHWeH saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. 6And YaHWeH was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.Through prophecy, YaHWeH’s mercy and grace could flow like mighty rivers.YaHWeH’s mercy and grace could touch the one(s) who received prophecy and who then responded as intended.YaHWeH’s touch was both tender and loving – yet it also a firm hand.[Read the Scriptural account of Jesus’s transfiguration and see Jesus’ tender and loving touch.]

2. REVELATION OF THE MIND OF YaHWeH.Prophecy may reveal what YaHWeH thought about something or someone.Prophecy may reveal the consequences of people’s words and/or actions.Prophecy may warn of potential consequences and advise caution.

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Prophecy may tell of the inevitable consequences that follow actions or words.Prophecy makes YaHWeH’s ways known.Prophecy extends the established forgiveness of YaHWeH to those who need to receive it and realize it.YaHWeH’s mind is revealed in his words, and, of course, supremely in his Word that is Jesus, who is the Christ.

3. REVELATION OF THE WILL OF YaHWeH.Prophecy may reveal what YaHWeH will do, or what he will not do.Prophecy may reveal when YaHWeH will do, or when he will not do.Prophecy may reveal why YaHWeH will do, and why he will not do.Prophecy may reveal who YaHWeH will use or who he will not use.1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-3126Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."YaHWeH’s will is love in action.YaHWeH’s deeds carry out his will.

4. WHAT PROPHETS DID NOT DO 1. THEY DID NOT USE PROPHECY TO ADVANCE THEIR

OWN REPUTATIONS.

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In the world of the Old Testament, YaHWeH’s prophets were unique in this regard, in that they did not use prophecy to enhance their own reputations and influence.As I indicated earlier, there were a great many prophets, both in Israel and among the Gentile nations in the known world.All prophets in the known world apart from YaHWeH’s prophets interpreted and applied the prophecies that they gave, and that is always a great danger for those who would use prophecy today.YaHWeH’s prophets merely gave what they had received from YaHWeH and then left it to their hearers to respond to what they had seen or heard in an appropriate way.This meant that Israel’s prophets did not advance their own reputations, but it also meant that they were often criticized, often ridiculed and even persecuted – especially when what they said was not what the people wanted to hear.

2. THEY DID NOT USE PROPHECY AS A WEAPON AGAINST PEOPLE.YaHWeH’s prophets never attacked the people themselves with their prophecies, and neither did they use prophecy to embarrass or humiliate people.In the book of Acts you will see that apostle spent a lot of time in Ephesus speaking and debating with a great many people who followed a great many gods; but he never once told them that they were wrong, he never once criticised their beliefs, and he never once ridiculed their gods.Paul was not against them or even against their god(s), but rather he was totally for Jesus.Back in Israel, YaHWeH’s prophets intervened in people’s lives, but they did not interfere in their lives.

INTERVENTION INVITES A RESPONSE;

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INTERFERENCE FORCES A RESPONSE.3. THEY DID NOT STEAL THE GLORY THAT BELONGED

TO YaHWeH ALONE.This is such a vital lesson for every Christian in every regard, for it is so very easy to touch the divine glory that has shone in someone’s life and try to deflect it onto ourselves.Read 2 Kings chapter 5 and see what happened to Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, when he both lied and allowed his own greed to bring about his downfall – in a way that Judas Iscariot would mirror centuries later.

4. THEY DID NOT USE PROPHECY TO PROVE THEIR OWN STATURE.Prophecy is a gift of grace – not a gift of merit.Prophecy in and of itself is not a sign of maturity.In Israel of old, the prophets were servants of YaHWeH to the people of YaHWeH.YaHWeH’s prophets of old operated out of true servanthood and from a deep, intimate relationship with YaHWeH himself.The prophets were careful to operate for the common good, even if that could mean that they sometimes had hard things to say and were attacked for saying them.Israel’s prophets of old did not have any elevated status or special position in the eyes of the people – rather they were relationship based and consistently called the people back to intimate relationship with YaHWeH.

5. WHAT PROPHETS DID DO 1. PROPHETS CHALLENGED THEIR OWN PEOPLE AS

INDIVIDUALS AND AS A NATION TO REMEMBER THEIR IDENTITY WHEN THEY WERE TURNING TO OTHER GODS AND TO OTHER RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.They reminded the people of who they were.

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They reminded the people of what YaHWeH had done for them in the past.

2. PROPHETS CHALLENGED THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHEN THOSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE NOT CORRECTLY LEADING THE PEOPLE.They reminded the religious leaders of their responsibilities.They highlighted when the religious leaders were not living up to their responsibilities.

3. PROPHETS CHALLENGED THE KINGS WHEN THE KINGS WERE NOT WALKING IN THE WAYS OF YAHWEH AND WERE NOT TREATING PEOPLE PROPERLY.They reminded kings that they were to walk in the ways of YaHWeH as an example and guide to the people that they could safely follow.They reminded the kings of their responsibility to be accountable to YaHWeH and to his people.The prophets reminded the kings that they had a king, too.

4. PROPHETS CHALLENGED THE RULERS OF COUNTRIES OUTSIDE ISRAEL ON OCCASION.They reminded the rulers of other nations that they were dealing with the people of YaHWeH and that Israel was not just a nation that was worshipping different gods to them.They reminded the rulers of other nations that actions always had consequences.

5. PROPHETS WERE A VOICE TO THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD ON OCCASION.They pointed out to the nations of the world that they were not excluded from YaHWeH’s plans and purposes.It was so easy for Israel’s religious leaders to forget that YaHWeH was inclusive and not exclusive.They pointed out to the nations that there was only one true and living God.

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6. WHAT ABOUT US TODAY? When we hear the word ‘prophecy’ it is easy to think almost exclusively about past prophecy predicting future events – and understandably so in relation to the birth, life and death of Jesus the Christ.But prophecy is about much more than that, as our look at the prophets of old Israel has already shown us – for Israel’s prophets were prophetic in their whole lives and their whole lifestyles – not merely in their words.Let’s consider what prophecy can do for us and what it can mean to us:1. PROPHETS CHALLENGE THEIR OWN PEOPLE AS

INDIVIDUALS AND AS A NATION TO REMEMBER THEIR IDENTITY WHEN THEY ARE TURNING TO OTHER GODS AND TO OTHER RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.Can we do that in a positive way that demonstrates that we are a prophetic people by the simple fact alone of our existence?Can we remind our people of what YaHWeH has done for them in Christ in the past?We are YaHWeH’s people in Christ and we belong to Christ.We are not our own – we were bought by the precious blood of Christ.We live for another whom we worship.Can our whole lives be a prophetic expression of who we are in Christ?

2. PROPHETS CHALLENGE THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHEN THOSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE NOT CORRECTLY LEADING THE PEOPLE.Can we encourage all Christian leaders to demonstrate an ever-deepening relationship with Christ?

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Can we show our own hunger for that ever-deepening relationship with Christ?Can we support, strengthen and encourage Christian leaders in a way that shows them that we appreciate them and will honour them?

3. PROPHECY REMINDS US WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE ABOUT.It is so easy to see believing in Christ as a mere add-on to our lives here on earth.In reality, we are spiritual beings who are temporarily mortal human beings here on earth.What we will one day become has not yet been made known. We are citizens of heaven – aliens and strangers on this earth. We are explorers – not settlers.We are not the focus, Jesus is the focus.We are here to show Christ through our whole lives.

4. PROPHECY REMINDS US THAT YaHWeH IS NOT SILENT IN THE WORLD TODAY.Through the lives of millions of people dedicated to him, God is speaking in the world today in many eloquent ways.With words of forgiveness, grace, love, acceptance, and many more words YaHWeH is making himself known in our world today.We need to receive YaHWeH’s message in Christ and we need to live it. YaHWeH also speaks through creation itself, to those who will listen.

5. PROPHECY REMINDS US THAT YaHWeH STILL ACTS IN THE WORLD TODAY.

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If YaHWeH does not act in our world today, then we are liars and frauds.If YaHWeH is not at work in our world today, then I am giving people false hope.But YaHWeH is the one, true living God, and he most certainly is at work in our world today.He does not work according to our prejudices, but he certainly works.

6. PROPHECY REMINDS US THAT WE NEED TO LIVE IN THE WAY OF CHRIST.Living as a Christian is not about living according to our own agendas.We live to show Jesus to people, and to demonstrate that there is a great future and a hope for people who are in Christ.We cannot make anyone live Christ’s way, and we should not try to do so.What we can do is to show Jesus and so make his ways known.What we can do is to be a prophetic community of faith, hope and love.

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