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The call of the prophet

Isaiah 6, Jeremiah 1 & 20, Ezekiel 1-3 all recount the call of the particular prophet in the book.  There are several major parallels within the call of each 1) the experience God 2) God directly speaks to them 3) God sends them on a mission 4) God in some way engages each one of their mouths to ready them and put His words on them.

The prophetic office of the Hebrew Scripture was not a desired office.  The prophets where called to proclaim the invasion of Jersusalem, the exile (597 – first deportation), the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple (587), along with the general destruction for disobedience they proclaimed.

Contemporary Significance

Thomas Overholt speaks of the prophetic office the form of a triangle.  God at the top speaks to the prophet, the prophet also speaks back (usually reluctantly) and the prophet speaks to the people (which we understand is God’s message to the people)

Although the contemporary minister is not a prophet, there are some strong parallels.  The minister SHOULD have had (and continue to have) an experience with God, in which God directs them on how they should lead.  The minister speaks on behalf of God to the people (mainly from the biblical accounts, but not diminishing the direction in which God lays on the heart of the minister for the congregation).  Often times the message of the minister is not received well because it doesnt ‘tickle the ears’ of the congregation.

The call of the minister may be like Isaish when God says – they will hear, but not understand, their minds will be dull, so in other words you are going to be speaking to a brick wall.

Or Jeremiah who says the word of the LORD has become a reproach to him

Or Ezekiel who also was sent to a people who would not listen

But we remember our job is to stay faithful to God, not to persuade people and God will give us glimpses of the future glory, like Ezekiel’s vision of the Temple in Ezekiel 40-47.  The days may be long and like a prophet we may be beat down, but God is with us, it is His word we speak, to Him we stay faithful, and His future for us is ready with the hope and reward of the toil of this life.