Driven by Prophets

Corporations and their stockholders keep their eyes on the bottom line. They care about one thing. Making money. They are driven by profits. God’s people should keep their eyes on the REAL bottom line. Obeying and glorifying God. We should be listening for God’s voice through His handpicked spokespersons. This has nothing to do with piling up cash. Instead, we should driven by prophets. That’s what’s going on here as Ezra describes the situation in Jerusalem. God’s people have returned from 70 years of slavery to rebuild the temple (Ez 2:1). The local yokels freak out when the Israelites throw a huge party to celebrate the reconstruction project (Ez 3:10-13). The Samaritans sabotage the restoration of the house of the LORD for 16 years. That’s when God speaks through both Haggai and Zechariah (Ez 5:1). Yahweh uses this prophetic pair to jumpstart construction “until the second year of Darius king of Persia” (Ez 4:24). After taking a 16-year break, the Israelites are back on the job site. That’s because God’s people were driven by prophets.

The LORD lights a fire under the Jews through Haggai and Zechariah. This has to be a huge relief to Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the leaders of the return and reconstruction. As the governor and chief priest (Ez 3:2, 8), they must have been completely frustrated by shallow commitment of God’s people. They’ve tossed their tools away after the Samaritans used every trick in the book to discourage the Israelites from completing their work (Ez 4:4-5). Zerubbabel and Jeshua had to feel like they were pushing rope to get folks back on the job. It isn’t until God speaks to His people through Haggai and Zechariah that construction starts humming again. Ezra lets us know how the Jews “began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them” (Ez 5:2). So what exactly did this dynamic duo have to say? You can read it for yourself in the OT books bearing their names (Hag 1:4-11; Zech 1:1-6). 

There was just one little problem. Some of the leaders of the neighboring nations have their doubts about whether this reconstruction project was legal. Men named Tattenai and Shetharbozenai check in with the project managers and want to see all the permits (Ez 5:3). They not only want to see all the proper paperwork but demand a list of every craftsman swinging a hammer on the temple mount (Ez 5:4). Most Bible scholars believe these dudes weren’t as malicious as the first set of Samaritans 16 years ago. Tattenai and Shetharbozenai simply want to make sure things are on the up and up with the home office in Persia. In the following verses, Ezra cuts and pastes the contents of the letter to King Darius checking to see if he gave his royal thumbs up to this joint (Ez 5:6-17). Think of one of your neighbors dropping an email the HOA board to see if they’ve approved your new sun room.

While the historical context is important, the bigger point here is the role of the prophet as God’s personal mouthpiece. All throughout the Old Testament, Yahweh selects a series of prophets to communicate His truth to both His people and their leaders. The list of prophets includes many of the Bible’s heavy hitters. Moses, Samuel, Nathan, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Elijah, Elisha, Obadiah, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Habbakkuk, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Haggai. These cats are either major characters in the OT narrative or have entire books named for their prophetic work. Yeah, they’re kind of a big deal. 

After God pressed the divine mute button for 400 years, we hear from John the Dunker (Mt 3:1-4). The Apostle Paul confirms that prophecy is included in the spiritual gifts (Rom 12:6). Prophets play an important role in “to the people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1Cor 14:3-4). Some believe that this is one of the gifts that disappeared after God finished delivering His Word in the form of Scripture. I have to say that I’m not nearly biblically nimble enough to make that argument. One thing is for sure. IF God still gifts people as His prophets today, everything they say must be tested against the Bible. God will not contradict Himself. He. Will. Not. 

And every prophet just points us the THE Prophet, Jesus Christ. Moses personally predicted that “God will raise up for you a prophet like me” from His chosen people (Dt 18:15). In one of the first sermons ever preached in Jerusalem Community Church, the Apostle Peter said Jesus fulfilled the Mighty Mo’s prophecy (Acts 3:22-23). Even the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth saw Himself as a prophet (Mt 13:57; Lk 13:33). Over and over, Christ announced that He was simply passing along what His Dad wanted Him to say (Jn 7:16; 12:49). If you’re not sure of there’s a lower-case “p” prophet in your church, you can always be sure the the capital “P” Prophet is always in attendance. After all, it is His church!

Five hundred years before Jesus, God used the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to get His people back on track and back to work. He used prophets all throughout history to speak truth. They encouraged. They challenged. Sometimes people listened. Sometimes they didn’t. He continued to use prophets like John the Dunker in the New Testament. You can include John the Apostle on that prophetic list. If the book of Revelation isn’t prophecy, I’m not sure what is. God’s Spirit continues to gifts people to be prophets. But each and every one of these shine their prophetic light on THE Prophet, Jesus Christ. For tax purposes, the church is a non-profit organization. For ministry purposes, God’s people should be driven by prophets. But only when those prophets are driven by God.