“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” says the Bible in Proverbs 28:19.
THE ROLE OF PROPHETS
In ancient Israel, prophets were more than just spiritual leaders; they were also revolutionaries and social reformers.
Today, many believe that a prophet is someone who foretells the future and that the prophet’s function is to foretell future events.
A large crowd gathers in arenas, churches, and other public spaces to hear modern prophets renowned for predicting the future.
They consider a prophet to be someone who frequently predicts the future (or did so, in the case of the Bible). (Zechariah 8:7-8; Daniel 7:1–14; Isaiah 7:14)
The prophecy-making activities of the Israelite prophets were more of a byproduct of their primary position and purpose.
In the Bible, the prophets’ primary responsibility was to communicate with the populace about the words and purposes of the true God in relation to their particular circumstances.
In terms of their analysis of the actions and decisions made by their communities, they served as the channels for God’s will.
God established the defining characteristics of a prophet at the outset of Israel’s history as a nation, and prophecy was not a requirement for the call (Deuteronomy 18:18-19).
Let’s examine how one prophet carried out his prophecy in the Bible.
Prophet Nathan and the Guilty King
A story about King David staying at home during a time when kings went to war is presented in 2 Samuel chapters 11–12. What occurred next is terrible.
He craved the naked lady he saw in the bathroom, realized she was someone’s wife, got her pregnant, killed her husband, and eventually took her for himself.
Even if what this King did was terrible, it was still the king who ordered it. So how do you correct a powerful person when they are wrong?
Prophet Elijah, Elisha, and others were free-lance prophets; Prophet Nathan was a palace prophet.
Since Nathan was an employee of the Palace, the person who signed his paycheck was now in violation; Nathan was left wondering how to correct the situation.
MORAL AUTHORITY
Because the nation’s prophets lack the moral authority to rebuke even the politicians, many prophets are unable to correct those in positions of authority.
In contrast to many religious leaders of today, Nathan practised a spirituality that provided him with a foundation to morally reprimand his boss.
Politicians nowadays would laugh us off if you questioned them on the moral character of the nation’s men of God.
PARABOLIC APPROACH
Nsibambi edibya Mutere is a proverb used by the Baganda people of Uganda (product demand depends on the packaging and branding). Nathan did not confront the sinful King and warn him of his transgression.
Instead of releasing the King’s scandal to the media, he requested a private meeting with the monarch. Everyone has to know and be taught that our leaders should receive both public and private criticism.
Instead of knocking on the King’s door and saying, “You adulterer, thus declares the Lord,” Nathan gave him a parable and asked the King to adjudicate between the characters.
Nathan reminds us, spiritual leaders, that how we tell people what they did when we need to discipline them rather than what they did is more important.
By using a parable, Nathan was able to lessen David’s defensiveness. A parable is a weapon of weakness, as Martin B. Copenhaver once observed.
However, a parable can cut through our defences against our own actions and into the inner court, where there is consensus over what is right and evil.
While protecting and preserving the king in his position of power regardless of his guilt, Nathan had the duty as a spiritual leader to his leader to hold him accountable for his decisions.
ASSERTIVENESS IN ITS RIGHTFUL TIME
Nathan boldly addressed the King, “You are the wicked man in the Parable,” after preparing the King to accept his criticism without becoming defensive, and then he proceeded to describe what the king had done.
Make sure the guilty leader is aware of the seriousness of his transgression. You must be assertive and speak plainly about the issue.
Nathan is the ideal example of how to support and lead strong sinners to repentance.
Sinners in positions of authority must be treated with caution, not because they are more sinful than others, but rather because their welfare is in jeopardy and depends too heavily on them. This is the lesson Nathan gives us all.
God bless you,
I invoke TRUTH, WISDOM and FAITH (2Tim 2:7)
Priest M.I.T White (+256-775 822833)
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24)
Questioning to Believe and Believing to Live
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24) 