# Prophet Bible Study - TL;DR - It is God / His Spirit that calls and directs His prophets - Isaiah heard the Lord asking, "“Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” {Isaiah 6.8} - Isaiah replied, “Here am I. Send me!” [Isaiah 6.8] - Ezekiel said that the Spirit entered him and he heard Him speaking [Ezekiel 2.2] - God told Ezekiel, "I am sending you to the Israelites" and he was to say to them, "This is what the Lord God says" [Ezekiel 2.3-4] - The Spirit lifted Ezekiel up and took him away. [Ezekiel 3.12-14] - Ezekiel went in bitterness and anger in his spirit with the strong hand of the Lord [Ezekiel 3.14] - After this "pep talk" at the River Kebar, God's hand was again on Ezekiel and He told him to go out to the plain and there He would speak with him. [Ezekiel 3.22] - Ezekiel obeyed God and encountered the "glory of the Lord".  Ezekiel's response was to fall face-down [Ezekiel 3.23] - After Ezekiel fell face-down, the Spirit entered him and set him on his feet [Ezekiel 3.3-24] - Paul lists off several “gifts” saying that they are all given by the Spirit and appointed as He determines.  Among the “gifts” Paul mentions is prophecy.  [1 Corinthians 12.7-11] - I feel like I am saying to God, "Here am I. Send me!"  I am not sure if I got a response from Go that says, "Go" [Isaiah 6.8] - Then God told Isaiah "Go tell this people" the following [Isaiah 6.9-10] - Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. - Compare with **Matthew 13.15** and **Mark 4.12** [Isaiah 6.9-10] - The Hebrew LXX is different and changing the tone a lot for **Isaiah 6.9-10** - The first phrase is "You will be ever hearing" instead of "Be ever hearing" [Isaiah 6.9] - The first sentence of **verse 10** reads, "This people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes" instead of "Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes." [Isaiah 6.10] - The ultimate outcome of hearing and seeing is to turn / return to God.  Compare with [Repent, Believe, Obedience and Salvation Bible Study](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FPp6Cu2mkfnfIAr7ULs6iAVi9yX9m5wLsNQsCo2WhC0/edit#heading=h.8n3rcmctafh3 "https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FPp6Cu2mkfnfIAr7ULs6iAVi9yX9m5wLsNQsCo2WhC0/edit#heading=h.8n3rcmctafh3") [Isaiah 6.10] - God has some negative things to say about false prophets [Jeremiah 23.9-40] - God asks a couple of key questions: [Jeremiah 23.18] - But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and hear His word? - Who has given heed to His word and obeyed it? - This is the verse that really caught my attention:  But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and evil deeds. [Jeremiah 23.22] - Has God "sent" me? [Jeremiah 23.21] - 2019.05.21 - I feel that **verse 22** is what God is calling me to do.  Jeremiah 23.22 - Stand in His council - Proclaim His words to His people - Turn them back from their evil ways and deeds - God said it was OK to retell a dream as long as it is told in context [Jeremiah 23.28] - On the other hand, for those who have His word, we should speak truthfully.  His word is like a fire and like a hammer that smashes a rock. [Jeremiah 23.28-29] - In comparing a "dream" with God's word, God asks a question, "What is chaff compared with the wheat?"  Obviously, the chaff gets burned up or turned into mulch whereas the wheat is eaten or planted for more wheat.  I couldn't understand the BSB translation, "For what is straw compared to grain?" {Jeremiah 23.28} - There are consequences for declaring, "This is the oracle of the Lord" [Jeremiah 23.38-40] - God will forget me - God will cast me from His presence - God will cast the city He has given to His people from His presence - He will bring everlasting shame and perpetual humiliation that will never be forgotten - At the end of the seven days, God spoke again saying, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me." [Ezekiel 3.17] - God warned Ezekiel that as Israel's watchman, he would be held responsible for his actions.  [Ezekiel 3.18-21] - The purpose of the warning Ezekiel was to give to the wicked was "to save his life" [Ezekiel 3.18] - The phrase "I will hold you responsible" comes from two Hebrew words: "I will require" and "at your hand" {Ezekiel 3.18, 20, [[H1245]], [[H3027]]} - Other translations for "responsible" in **verses 18 & 20** [Ezekiel 3.18, 20] - Accountable (NIV, NET) - Responsible (NLT, BSB, CSB) - Require at your hand (ESV, NASB, KJV, WEB) - The life of a prophet is crazy.  It would seem that the purpose of going to the Kebar river and then to the plain was to test Ezekiel's obedience.  [Ezekiel 3.15, 22] - Jesus warns of false prophets who come as soft furry dumb sheep, but really are ravenous wolves [Matthew 7.15] - It is interesting that the false prophets are "clothed" in sheep's clothing.  Elsewhere in the Bible, "good clothing" are Biblical characteristics [Matthew 7.15] - Two of the scariest verses in the Bible is where people will say to Jesus on judgement day that they prophesied in His name, and in His name drove out demons and performed many miracles.  However, Jesus responded by saying, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!" [Matthew 7.22-23] - When the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables: [Matthew 13.11-17] - First, Jesus told them that the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven had been given to them [Matthew 13.11] - Then, He repeated a phrase the He said several times, everyone that has, will get more, but those who don't have, will lose even what they have [Matthew 13.12] - Next, He paraphrased a passage from **Isaiah 6.9-10**, then He quoted it.  The paraphrase is:  ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ [Matthew 13.13-15] - He wraps up this section by telling the disciples that they are blessed.  Many prophets and righteous men longed to see and hear what they are getting to experience. [Matthew 13.16-17] - I am speculating that helping people really see and understand is a role of a prophet. {Matthew 13.10-17, [[G4920]]} - When his homies rejected Him, Jesus said, "Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” [Matthew 13.57] - Jesus implied that outside a prophet's hometown and own household, it was "normal" for a prophet to receive honor [Matthew 13.57] - Jesus' initial response to the questions about when the temple will be destroyed and what is the sign of His coming is to not be deceived, because many will come in His name [Matthew 24.4-5] - He goes on to say that many false prophets will arise and lead may astray [Matthew 24.11] - Later He says something similar, "false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible." [Matthew 24.24] - Paul talks about how there are different gifts / ministries / ways of working, but there is only one Spirit / Lord / God [1 Corinthians 12.4-6].  As he transitions into a discussion about specific spiritual gifts, he starts it with saying that the “manifestations” are given for the common good [1 Corinthians 12.7] - Not really sure what is the difference between “prophecy”, “message of wisdom” and “message of knowledge” [1 Corinthians 12.8] - Interestingly, Paul lists off several gifts / positions as they apply to the church in an order: Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, others.  Interestingly, shepherds are not mentioned in this list. [1 Corinthians 12.28] - Paul expands his definition of “prophecy” to include “fathom all mysteries and knowledge” [1 Corinthians 13.2] - Paul says that although love never fails, prophecies will cease.  He goes on to say that we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes the partial will pass away.  I think he is saying that today, we can only know so well and therefore only prophecy so well.  However, when Jesus comes, there will be no need for prophecy because everyone will know everything perfectly.  On the other hand, love exists now and will only grow stronger when Jesus comes. The Greek definition for cease / dismissed would seem to support my thoughts in the previous sentence. {1 Corinthians 13.8-9, [[G2673]]} - Various other translations for “edification” include: [1 Corinthians 14.3] - Strengthening (NIV, NLT, NET) - Upbuilding - ESV - Help them grow - GWT - Various other translations for “encouragement” include: [1 Corinthians 14.3] - Exhortation - NASB, KJB, WEB - Paul starts off the chapter by saying that we should earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. [1 Corinthians 14.1] - He who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement and comfort as well as edifying the church [1 Corinthians 14.3-4] - Paul said that he wished that everyone could speak in tongues, but … [1 Corinthians 14.5] - He would rather they / we prophesy - He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues - Again, it all about edifying the church - In this verse, Paul separates revelation, knowledge, teaching and prophecy from each other [1 Corinthians 14.6] - Paul goes on to emphasize that we should strive to excel in gifts that build up the church [1 Corinthians 14.12] - He also emphasizes the purpose of prophecy is so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged [1 Corinthians 14.31] - Paul ended the paragraph by saying that the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets [1 Corinthians 14.32] - Paul wraps up this chapter by saying that we should be eager to prophesy and that we should not forbid speaking in tongues [1 Corinthians 14.39]