PROPHET

PROPHET

The prophets did not inherit the office nor receive it by human appointment, but were chosen, prepared, and called of God: and the call was often soul-searching (Ex. 3:1-4; 1 Sam. 3:1-20; Jer. 1:4-10; Ezek. 1:1-3).

The English word is derived from the Greek prophetes, which means one who speaks for another, an interpreter or proclaimer, and one who speaks beforehand, a predictor.

The Hebrew word nabi', which is translated prophet, means one who announces. The nabi', or prophet, was a person qualified by God to be His spokesman to men. The prophet was sometimes called a seer (1 Sam. 9:9).

Referring to the the prophet's special enduement from on high, he was called a man of the Spirit (Hos. 9:7). In common with other ministers of God, official or private, he is a man of God, a servant of God, a messenger of the Lord, a shepherd of God's people, a watchman, an interpreter.

The prophets were taught of the Spirit of God. An audible voice or an angelic messenger occasionally came (Num. &:89; 1 Sam. 3:4; Dan. 9:21); but the instruction was ordinarily imparted by dreams, visions, and inward suggestions recognized by the prophets as not of themselves. They were not under the permanent influence of the Spirit. The word of the Lord came unto them. They waited for revelation (Lev. 34:12). And their natural mental discernment is distinguished from God's (1 Sam. 16:6-7).

The prophets did not exercise the prophetic power at all times, but when God told them to speak.

In the church of the New Testament also there were prophets (1 Cor. 12:28). They were specially illumined expounders of God's revelation. They spoke by the Spirit, occasionally foretold the future (Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-11), and taught and exhorted to great edification (1 Cor. 14:3-4, 24).

The call of prophets came immediately from God himself (Amos 7:15). The prophet was aware of a definite moment when the call came...like the experience of Ezekiel (Ezek. 33:1-22) who had been called to the prophetic office by a vision many years before (1:1-4).

In the call of prophets human instrumentality is mentioned but once, namely, in the case of Elisha (1 Kings 19:19).

To the prophets' mode of life there is only incidental allusion. Evidently in most respects it was like that of other men.

Contributions were made for their support (1 Sam. 9:8; 1 Kings 14:2-3; 2 Kings 4:42). Some were Levites, and shared in the Levitical revenues. Some had private means; as Elisha and Jeremiah (1 Kings 19:19, 21; Jer. 32:8-10).

The prophets usually dwelt in houses like other men (1 Sam. 7:17; 2 Sam. 12:15; 1 Kings 14:4; 2 Kings 4:1-2; 5:9; 22:14; Ezek. 8:1).

Literary activities and duties devolved upon the prophets, as historians and writers of prophecy...In the time of Isaiah and Hosea the prophets entered upon their great careers as writers of prophecy. They committed their prophetic utterances in summary, or in considerable detail, or as isolated and individual prophecies, to writing.

Spiritually the prophets were prepared to receive divine communications. They were holy men, men who were surrendered to God's service and who lived in communion with God, men of habitual prayer...who retired at times to their watch tower, that is, composed their minds and gave themselves up to quiet contemplation, in order to wait for revelation (Is. 21:8; Hab. 2:1). Moses withdrew for forty days into the quiet and solitude of Mount Sinai for communion with God, when the pattern of the tabernacle was to be shown him. Occasionally, in the early period, music was employed to stimulate devotion and awaken religious feeling (1 Sam. 10:5), or to soothe the mind and attune the heart for meditation, when the will of the Lord was sought (2 Kings 3:15).