by Mr. Francis D'Souza
Almost half of the books of the Old Testament (OT) are classified under “prophecy”. According to the Ecumenical Bible which contains the books accepted by Catholics and our separated brethren 17 of the 39 books of the OT are written by the prophets, to name a few Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel etc. According to the Catholics Truth Society however the number of prophecy books is 18 out of 46.
The prophets can be broadly classified as follows:
- Major prophets and minor prophets
- Writing prophets and non-writing prophets
- True prophets and false prophets
This is the reason why the author of the letter to the Hebrews is saying in Chapter 1:1,2 is saying “In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son.
Functions of a prophet:
A prophet is one who has the responsibility of proclamation and prediction, of forthtelling and foretelling. His office was not hereditary like that of a priest (in the OT) but depended on a special call to deliver God’s word to the nation and to individuals within it. The prophets reminded the nation of its call to the social and moral righteousness of the covenant.
The priest by studying the law and offering the required sacrifices preserved the past the prophet by interpreting the current happenings gave directions that would preserve the future. The prophet had a different job each day, it was without rhythm, without routine, without ritual. His career was always on the line. His courage and credibility were continually challenged. He was not always wanted, was seldom respected, and if he did his work well he was often hated. He dealt primarily with internals, ethical erosion of the human heart.
A Priest calmed thinks down whereas the Prophet stirred things up
The prophet is one who exposes the ugly sores before he applies the medicine. He is, in short a person who creates problems by revealing problems so that he can solve problems.
He preached the Word of God which comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comforted.
The prophets way of life is not a bed of roses, consider what they did and said to Jeremiah (put him in a well without water) Amos (told him to go and earn his bread by prophesying in his home country) John the Baptist (who lost his head on what Herod did by marrying his brother’s wife and so lost his head- was beheaded)
Some of the examples of the prophets are as follows:
• Elijah was sent to king Ahab to convict him of the terrible thing he and his wife did to grab Naboth’s vineyard. (1 Kings 21)
• Nathan was sent to king David to convict him of the sin of adultery he had committed with Bathsheba and also arranging the murder of Uriah by having him put in the hottest part of the battle. (2 Samuel 12)
• John the Baptist was sent to declare to Herod of the evil of taking his brother’s wife. Mark 6:18
From this we know that the prophet’s job was not at all easy on the contrary it was very risky telling the kings and other people their faults and weaknesses.
This message pertains to us because we are called to be prophets by virtue of our calling:
Matthew 5:13,14 You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. The world has become insipid, tasteless and dark because of sin. We as prophets are called to dispel the darkness by preaching the word of God which brings light.
Matthew 28:19 – Go make disciples of all nations. As a prophet we are called to bring Jesus to the world by proclaiming the word so that the Holy Spirit can do the work of conversion by the word that has been preached to them.
John 15: 16 You did not choose me but I chose you to go and bear much fruit…. As prophets we are called to proclaim the word which will have the pruning effect, as Jesus elsewhere told Peter you are made clean by the word that I have spoken to you.
This message pertains to us because we are called to be prophets by virtue of our Baptism:
By Baptism we share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. CCC 1268
This is in keeping with 1 Peter 2:9 - But you are the chosen race the king’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.
To carry out this prophetic office effectively the following qualities are important:
- Must be constantly tuned to God: A true prophet allows God to put His words in his mouth. This is how Moses was able to understand what God wanted from his people. For this we must do what Moses did as given in Exodus 34:10 The Lord knew him face to face. Otherwise we may be attempting to put words in God’s mouth. There are three types of prophecies – SELF, GOOD AND EVIL. A prophet is a junction between God and man and this is impossible without the unction which comes through prayer which is to be in tune with God
- Must wait on the Lord long enough to get the complete message: A true prophet will bring not only the anger side of God’s message but will also bring the loving side of it. Read Isaiah 1:19,20 and 1King 21:17-28.
- Must live a contradiction-free life: A prophet’s talk should match his walk otherwise the message will not be accepted and the prophet’s mission will not be accomplished. Herod respected John the Baptist because he was good and holy(Mark 6:20)
- Must be fearless: 2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of boldness and self-control. This is what spurred Nathan, Elijah, Amos, John the Baptist and others.
- Must be obedient: A true prophet will carry out every instruction from the Lord in total obedience otherwise we will have to go to our Nineveh via the belly of the fish like Jonah.
1 Peter 2:9 - But You Are The Chosen Race,
The King’s Priests, The Holy Nation,
God’s Own People, Chosen To Proclaim
The Wonderful Acts Of God,
Who Called You Out Of Darkness Into
His Own Marvelous Light.