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Yesterday for some reason I got to thinking about prophets and prophecy.  I just got back from seeing the movie “life or something like it”….  it involves a “prophet” of sorts.  Therefore, I decided I would write about it tonight.

proph·et   Pronunciation Key  (prft)
n.

1. A person who speaks by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom the will of a god is expressed.
   
2. A person gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression.
   
3. A predictor; a soothsayer.
   
4. The chief spokesperson of a movement or cause.

When we think of a prophet we tend to think of someone who can foresee the future.  In actuality, this is only a small part of who a prophet is, and, such an ability is not absolutely required to be considered a prophet.  I actually do not fully agree with the definition above.  A prophet does not act as an “interpreter” for God, a prophet merely delivers the message he hears from God to God’s people.  A prophet is there to encourage people, and to guide people.

In biblical times, a prophet was not merely someone who displayed these things… it was an actual profession, an office.  They were paid to do their job just as people are paid for doing any other job.  As a result, there were many false prophets…  in it simply for the money.  They said what people wanted to hear, they offered blessings to those who would pay them well.  But they did not hear from God.  The true prophets of Israel had a tendancy to be hated by Israel.  They spoke out against things that they knew to be wrong, they insisted that people follow the will of their God and creator.  They did so in the face of much persecution and hatred.

The book of Lamentations I think is an incredible book.  It gives you insight into what it feels like to be a prophet.  It is also a very depressing book, as the title obviously points out.

To know what is going to happen to people if they continue in their ways, to try to warn them of it, and then to see it fulfilled despite all your efforts.  Why should one even bother?  God puts this responsibility on someone, a prophet, and says “Tell these people that they are doing wrong, and if they do not stop there are going to be consequences.”  The prophet tells them, and nothing changes.  The consequences come to pass.  Wouldn’t it be easier for everyone involved if there was no prophet?

So many times people see someone who is trying to help them as someone who is trying to judge them.  They don’t realize that sometimes other people may know better then them what they are talking about.

The audible voice of God.  Have I ever heard it?  No.  I know people who have heard it.  Not many, but a few.  Do you think I am crazy for believing these people when they tell me this?  Do you think they’re crazy if they honestly believe they have heard the voice of God?  Have you ever thought that maybe some poor homeless man standing on the street-corner screaming out prophecies may actually be hearing from God?  Or have you always dismissed them as “crazy homeless people”.  Certainly, some of them are.  But God has been known to use those that society looks down upon.  Look at John the Baptist.  I’d imagine he fits the mold of “crazy homeless man” pretty well.  God used him to announce the coming of Christ.

So are there modern-day prophets?  Certainly.  Anyone who hears from God is a prophet.  If you want to be a prophet, you will be.  However, remember that there are consequences to hearing from God.  God has put his prophets through hell before taking them to heaven.  He will not be afraid to drag you through the mud to be heard.  That is what a prophet does.  Lives his life to represent the voice of God.

The role of prophet is not as enviable as people always seem to see it.