I agree completely with what you said there, 100%. It is amazing how there could be so much Biblical illiteracy, when we have so many translations, so much leisure time, and so many who have lived and died just to pass it on to us.
The comment I want to register in dialogue is not to contradict or even correct what you said, but only to give an observation of recent days. The Bible itself is composed of written prophecy. Except for some sacred history writing (which I also take as inspired!), it is composed of prophetic revelation. Many times those prophets (yes, even Moses) were despised in their own day.
Secondly, while the Law (containing both legal codes and _promises_: Rom. 9:9; 2 Cor. 1:20) was always kept in a book and revered by the people of Israel, nevertheless they often disobeyed the very spirit of it, instead "keeping it" legalistically, which was never intended by God. He again and again sent them prophets (as Jeremiah notes) "rising early morning by morning" to speak to any who had 'an ear of a disciple' to hear.
Certainly, if He could do that before the Holy Spirit was poured out generally, He is not limited from it in the greater day (2 Cor. 3:5-18). Not all who spoke in the OT were writing prophets of eternal, settled revelation (witness schools of the prophets, and a number of nameless prophets for whom one word was recorded in the written revelation, but not all they spoke to encourage or correct people). The NT likewise bears witness to prophets giving forth words from God, and assumes (e.g., 1 Cor. 14; 1 Thess. 5) that this kind of speech will continue in the church. It can be on various levels, from personal to church-wide. This is not to establish an co-equal revelation; it is to recognize that there is illumination beyond mere human reasoning (though it will be seen to be reasonable!). So we can be receptive to the leadings of the Spirit. Anyone practiced in intercession (and not just in the habit of presenting a to-do list to God) should be able to gain an understanding of this. In fact, the OT itself continually exhorted the people to "obey My Voice" and not just decide for themselves the meanings and practices of the Word. What did the great numbers of Levitical priests do when they were not offering sacrifices in their turn? Who knows ... but they were supposed to be studying prayerfully, so they might discriminate spiritually (that Voice) in order to teach the people the precepts of God - from the Word.
The point you make is well taken, and SO important for just this reason. Even if one has a prophetic gift, this must be tested by those of confirmed character (elders, who embody the Word sufficiently), on the basis of the eternal written Word. Bless you for your exhortation to this generation!
Great to see and hear you again, Bob!
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with what you said there, 100%. It is amazing how there could be so much Biblical illiteracy, when we have so many translations, so much leisure time, and so many who have lived and died just to pass it on to us.
The comment I want to register in dialogue is not to contradict or even correct what you said, but only to give an observation of recent days. The Bible itself is composed of written prophecy. Except for some sacred history writing (which I also take as inspired!), it is composed of prophetic revelation. Many times those prophets (yes, even Moses) were despised in their own day.
Secondly, while the Law (containing both legal codes and _promises_: Rom. 9:9; 2 Cor. 1:20) was always kept in a book and revered by the people of Israel, nevertheless they often disobeyed the very spirit of it, instead "keeping it" legalistically, which was never intended by God. He again and again sent them prophets (as Jeremiah notes) "rising early morning by morning" to speak to any who had 'an ear of a disciple' to hear.
Certainly, if He could do that before the Holy Spirit was poured out generally, He is not limited from it in the greater day (2 Cor. 3:5-18). Not all who spoke in the OT were writing prophets of eternal, settled revelation (witness schools of the prophets, and a number of nameless prophets for whom one word was recorded in the written revelation, but not all they spoke to encourage or correct people). The NT likewise bears witness to prophets giving forth words from God, and assumes (e.g., 1 Cor. 14; 1 Thess. 5) that this kind of speech will continue in the church. It can be on various levels, from personal to church-wide. This is not to establish an co-equal revelation; it is to recognize that there is illumination beyond mere human reasoning (though it will be seen to be reasonable!). So we can be receptive to the leadings of the Spirit. Anyone practiced in intercession (and not just in the habit of presenting a to-do list to God) should be able to gain an understanding of this. In fact, the OT itself continually exhorted the people to "obey My Voice" and not just decide for themselves the meanings and practices of the Word. What did the great numbers of Levitical priests do when they were not offering sacrifices in their turn? Who knows ... but they were supposed to be studying prayerfully, so they might discriminate spiritually (that Voice) in order to teach the people the precepts of God - from the Word.
The point you make is well taken, and SO important for just this reason. Even if one has a prophetic gift, this must be tested by those of confirmed character (elders, who embody the Word sufficiently), on the basis of the eternal written Word. Bless you for your exhortation to this generation!