The Prophet in the Life of Israel

I Samuel 3:19-21; 7:3-12

GOLDEN TEXT: “He that hath My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully.”—Jeremiah 23:28

OUR Golden Text indicates the prerogative of a prophet used of God to serve His people. The words of the Lord, whether they be those of warning against wrong-doing, or of encouragement; or instruction in righteousness; or prophetic of things to come, are communicated to those for whom they are intended by servants styled prophets. A prophet is a foreteller of future events, although many of Israel’s prophets were thus used of the Lord. The term “seer” is more properly applied to such.

Samuel was a prophet of the Lord. As such he “judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.” That is to say, he gave advice, gave decision in respect to their affairs, their disputes, etc., pointing out to them their proper course of conduct. In this service he spoke the words of the Lord, not depending upon his own wisdom, but the wisdom from above. By following Samuel’s instruction the Israelites brought blessings to themselves from the Lord, whose words had been spoken by the prophet.

While Samuel was raised up by the Lord to serve the Israelites at the time Eli, the High Priest, and his sons, the under priests, were, through death, removed because of their unfaithfulness, yet he did not succeed Eli to the priesthood. The priests of Israel could come only from the tribe of Levi, and Samuel was not of this tribe. He offered a burnt offering to the Lord following the rout of the Philistines at Mizpeh, yet he could not properly conduct the sacrificial services of the tabernacle. This work devolved upon the priests alone.

It requires the combined types furnished by the Lord in His dealings with Israel to give us a complete picture of the antitypical services of Christ and His church. Jesus, and also the members of His church, are prophets as well as priests. To them is entrusted the words of the Lord for communication to others, and to them is given the privilege of offering sacrifice. Jesus, as the Head of the church, is the Great Teacher, the Great Prophet, and we are His ambassadors. Because the merit of His perfect sacrifice compensates for our imperfections, the sacrifices we present to God, through Him, are acceptable.

Jesus, as well as the twelve inspired apostles, were prophets, not only in the sense of being mouth-pieces of God, expounders of the truth, but they were also seers. As seers they foretold much that has occurred throughout the Gospel age and revealed the conditions that would exist now, during the time of Christ’s second presence. They also affirmed the forecasts of the Old Testament seers. Peter, for example, refers to the great work of restitution to follow Christ’s second coming, and tells us that it had been foretold by the mouth of all God’s holy prophets including Samuel.—Acts 3:19-21

Aside from the twelve apostles, members of the church of Christ now fill the office of prophet only in the sense that they are commissioned to preach the Word. But this is an important and blessed privilege that belongs to all the consecrated followers of Jesus, and one that we should all endeavor to use faithfully. We are all God’s prophets, God’s mouth-pieces, authorized by the Holy Spirit to speak in the name of the Lord.

Our ordination, however, does not come from any laying on of hands of bishops, or anybody else. It comes directly from God, through our Lord, by the Holy Spirit. Concerning it the apostle says, “Ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy One.” (I John 2:20) Whoever has this anointing should be able to discern its influence in his heart and life; and should recognize it as his authorization to serve both as a priest and as a prophet of God.

Failing to recognize this ordination for service, the nominal church makes an unauthorized division between the clergy and laity, holding that only those ordained by man as ministers are properly authorized to handle the Word of God. God’s arrangement, however, is for all the consecrated to be His servants, His mouthpieces, His ministers of the Kingdom message of truth and righteousness.

In Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Moses prophesies that the Lord would raise up a great prophet who would give to the people what they desired at Horeb. In John 12:46-50, Jesus refers to this promise recorded by Moses, and applies it to His work as judge. In Acts 3:19-23, the Apostle Peter refers to it and applies it to the work of Christ following His second advent. From these other Scriptures, therefore, it is apparent that the office of prophet in typical Israel pointed forward to the preparatory work of prophets during this age, and also to the more comprehensive work of Christ and the church during the Millennial age.

As the church is to share the glory of the Christ, as His body members, the faithful of this age will be a part of that “Great Prophet,” and also a part of the world’s High Priest. As such they will share with Him in judging and blessing the people, restoring the willing and obedient to oneness with the Creator and giving them everlasting life. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”—Isaiah 40:5

QUESTIONS:

What was the special work assigned to the prophets of Israel, and what did it point forward to?

Should the church be divided as between clergy and laity?

Who will be the Lord’s Great Prophet of the next age?

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