I’m reading through the Old Testament Prophets. In respect for the religion I practise, and in love with the God I follow, I have a desire to read these books.
Now, reading these books is not a thing you would just take up on your own. A few pages in, and you are wondering who on earth this God is. And why in heaven these people do the things they do.
Actually, it’s probably just the opposite. God is in heaven and is not one of us (oops, the story of the New Testament kind of changes that). People live here on earth and act like it (oops, the story of the New Testament kind of changes that).
So, back to the Prophets.
For the most part, the Old Testament prophets are like politicians at election time. They carefully lay out their policies (given by God) and then denounce the other side (the false prophets). Although the people get to vote on who they like (which is most often the false prophets), the outcome is still that which is laid out by the OT Prophets.
In our daily lives in the 21st Century we don’t walk around calling people prophets. As I was reading one of the OT Prophets I wondered to myself who are the prophets of today.
The answer was fairly quick to come. The 21st Century prophets call themselves consultants. A consultant is brought in to asses the current situation and to strategize a future. Not all consultants are bad, not all are good.
So, as with the OT Prophets and their nemesises (what a great way to write out the bad guys), we need to be discerning. In our day and age we roll too easily with what would give us the good life – prosperity, success and comfort. And we tend to crucify the consultants who cause us: to think new thoughts; to spend our time reflecting on the past; and to change our ways in order to see a better day!
I’m almost up to Daniel, the prophet who played with lions. “The big cat plays with the big cats.” That could be another interesting blog!