Take a Lesson from the Prophets

How often we may hear or read about Old Testament prophecies where God has spoken his warning about the absence of following his commands.  Too often the word he made known fell short of the people not willing to listen to his prophets, and his prophets failing as well.  

From Amos, he says “Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without reveling his plan to his servants, the prophets.”  (Amos 3: 7)

Prophet as Watchman; “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel.  When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them for me.”  (Ez 3: 17).

“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, prophesy!”   Say to those who prophesy their own thought:  Hear the word of the Lord:  You did not step into the breach, nor did you build a wall against the house of Israel that would stand firm against an attack on the day of the Lord.  Was not the vision you saw false, and your divination lying?  Therefore thus says the Lord God:   Because you have spoken falsehood and have seen lying visions, therefore see!  I am coming at you, says the Lord God.”  (Ez 13: 1 - 8).

There are some who might exclaim the Old Testament was apropos for that time, but now we must move on with new teaching.  If we begin taking things out of context and applying new ideas instead, which promote adversarial thinking, we will miss the real intent of God’s demands on the prophets of old and new modern day prophets as well.    

Should we really listen to the prophesies from ancient times and attempt to adhere to those demands that the Lord God expected of his priests and prophets?  We might question as to how we comply with God’s demands if we do not even understand how they fit in today’s world over 2,600 years later?

Let’s reverse some roles to fit into our present situation of those in charge of cities, states, and countries.  The modern prophets who are chosen, by appointment or the ballot box, are indeed to govern their constituents in a manner of fairness, and in America to defend the Constitution of the United States.  Is this occurring?  Are these modern day prophets living up to the position they have been given?  Are they being responsible and more accountable to their position?  Jesus called the Pharisees and Scribes hypocrites because they enacted rules that they themselves failed to follow.  What description should we apply to these purveyors of prophecy when they show nothing but deceit? 

We are living in a world that absolutely will crumble as in the days of old when too many will be led astray by modern prophets whose primary obligation is to lead instead of becoming self-satisfying politicians who think to Hell with the role of governing fairly. 

Another message the Lord God spoke to Jeremiah:  “Stand in the court of the house of the Lord and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord; whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing.  Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from his evil way, so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them for their evil deeds.”  “Say to them:  Thus says the Lord:  If you disobey me, not living according to the law I placed before you and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them, I will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city which all the nations on the earth shall refer to when cursing another.”  “Now the priests and prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord.  When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the Lord bade him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, You must be put to death!  Why do you prophesy in the name of the Lord:  This house will shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate and deserted?  And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.”  (Jer. 26: 2 - 9).

The words spoken by God over 600 years before the birth of Christ rings out clearly and succinctly as a warning to the leaders of our country today.  Liberal proponents have removed the Name of God from every possible avenue of our society.  Churches have limited attendance policies and casinos have none.  The future of our nation lies at the mercy of these people who are so similar to those to whom Jeremiah spoke God’s commands.  

Do you remember the song “On the Eve of Destruction” written in 1965 by P.F. Sloan and sung by Barry McGuire.  It fit the time when it was written, but now the words reflect so much the anarchy and tyranny that are in the news, daily.   

Goes like this:  “The Eastern world, it is explodin, 

Violence flaring, bullets loadin,

You’re old enough to kill but not for votin,

And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin,

But you tell me over and over and over again my friend,

Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction.

Don’t you understand, what I’m trying to say?

And can’t you feel the fears I’m feeling today?

If the button is pushed, there’s no running away,

There’ll be no one to save with the world in a grave,

Take a look around you, boy, it’s bound to scare you , boy,

And you tell me over and over and over again my friend, 

Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction.

Handful of Senators don’t pass legislation,

And marches alone can’t bring integration,

When human respect is disintegratin,

This whole crazy world is just too frustratin,

And you tell me over and over and over again my friend,

Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in Red China,

Then take a look around at Selma, Alabama,

Ah, you may leave here, for four days in space,

But when you return, it’s the same old place,

The poundin of the drums, the pride and disgrace, 

You can bury your dead, but don’t leave a trace,

Hate your next door neighbor, but don’t forget to say grace,

And tell me over and over and over again my friend,

You don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction.

Ralph B. Hathaway, September 2020