A prophet in the Bible is an individual chosen and called by God to serve as a spokesperson, delivering His messages, instructions, warnings, promises, and revelations to individuals, nations, or the world at large. Prophets are often granted divine insight into present circumstances and future events, and they play a critical role in guiding the people of God according to His purposes.
### Characteristics and Role of a Prophet:
1. **Messenger of God**: Prophets act as intermediaries who convey messages directly from God to others.
– *Jeremiah 1:5*: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
– *Deuteronomy 18:18-19*: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.”
2. **Calling People to Repentance**: Prophets often call people to turn away from sin and return to God.
– *Isaiah 1:16-17*: “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice.”
– *Jonah 3:4-5*: Jonah warned Nineveh to repent, saying, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The people believed God and repented.
3. **Foretelling and Forth-telling**: Prophets foretell future events and provide guidance for specific situations.
– *Amos 3:7*: “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.”
– *Daniel 7:13-14*: Daniel prophesied about the coming of the “Son of Man,” a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
4. **Warning of Judgment**: Prophets frequently warned of judgment for disobedience, urging people to align with God’s commandments.
– *Ezekiel 33:7*: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.”
– *Jeremiah 25:4-5*: “And though the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.”
5. **Advocates for Social Justice**: Prophets often addressed social inequalities and corruption, urging the people to act justly.
– *Micah 6:8*: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
– *Amos 5:24*: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
### Jesus as the Ultimate Prophet:
Jesus Christ is considered the ultimate fulfillment of the prophetic office, bringing God’s perfect revelation and accomplishing what the earlier prophets foreshadowed.
– *Hebrews 1:1-2*: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.”
– *John 12:49*: “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.”
### Signs of a True vs. False Prophet:
Not everyone who claims to be a prophet is genuinely from God. The Bible provides criteria for discerning true prophets:
– *Deuteronomy 18:22*: “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.”
– *Matthew 7:15-16*: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.”
In summary, a prophet is a divine representative who communicates God’s will and word and serves as a guide, teacher, and warning voice to bring people closer to God’s truth. Their mission centers on faithfulness to God’s revelation, regardless of opposition or personal cost.