4. Old Testament Walkers and Talkers

xvi. The Prophets

Thinking

God spoke to Isaiah as recorded first in Isaiah 7: 3 and then on many other occasions. God also spoke to King Ahaz (Isaiah 7: 10), although this may have been through Isaiah.

The scriptures then go on to report how God spoke to Jeremiah (commencing in Jeremiah 1: 7), to Ezekiel (commencing in Ezekiel chapter 2), to Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Jonah, Micah, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. In each case the scripture says, "the word of the Lord came" to each of these men. Other occasions present as an oracle. It is difficult to know the mechanism of their prophecy but their words are consistent with the concept of God speaking to their spirit. Each prophet then voiced the word of the Lord words in his own personality.

Listening

My son, think for a moment. In the case of the prophets, I raised up each of these people and spoke to them for a national purpose - to restore my people as a nation into fellowship with me. For you and your readers, the purpose is almost the same - to restore and then grow you as individuals into fellowship with me. Not as prophets, but as my family, and I wish to converse with all of you.

Praying

Precious Lord, I am very conscious that the words of this book reflect my personality. I pray now for each person who will read these words - that he or she may reach out to you to express their faith and personality in their own words, and that in so doing, they will progressively grow deeper into you. And I thank you Lord, that by your grace, you are growing me and enabling me to write these stumbling words.

Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved.

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