For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put himin prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

  - Matthew 14.3, 4

As [Theuderic] often visited Columban, the holy man began to reprove him because he sinned with concubines, and did not satisfy himself with the comfort of a lawful wife... After this reproof from Columban, the king promised to abstain from such sinful conduct.

  - Jonas, Life of St. Columban, Italian, 7th century[1]

The prophet played many roles in the Scriptural economy. One of the most important was that of keeping the rulers and people on the straight and narrow (think: Nathan and David, Isaiah and Hezekiah).

It was not always pleasant duty (ask Elijah), nor did the prophet’s work always have the effect of God’s people returning to Him (Jeremiah, Amos). Some prophets even landed in jail for their trouble (Jeremiah, John the Baptist, the Apostle Paul).

But the true prophet was concerned for the Word and will of God, and for the wellbeing of God’s people, since he knew that God would visit His wrath upon a nation or people that scorned His Law.

It’s important to note that both John the Baptist and Columbanus used the word, “lawful,” in rebuking their sovereigns. By that they meant the king was in violation of the Law of God. Herod was a secular king and Theuderich was barely a nominal Christian. Each, however, was subject to the over-rule of God and of Jesus Christ, His King, and each was responsible, according to John and Columbanus, for conduct consistent with the Law of God.

Do we consider our rulers today as responsible to God and His Law?

Where are the prophets today who are speaking the truth of God’s Law to the lawmakers and rulers of this land? The voice of the prophet is all but silent in America, and the voice of folly rules the roost in legislatures, courts, and executive offices.

As well as in most other arenas of our society, sadly, including the Church.

The prophet of God knows that the blessings of God abide on that land which conducts its affairs under the rule of King Jesus (Ps. 33.12). For love of country as well as love of God, the prophet calls his nation to repent and submit to the wisdom and Word of God while there is yet time.

Joel said that, in the last days, all those possessed by the Spirit of God would prophesy (Joel 2.28). God has entrusted His Word to us. We cannot preach what we do not know, so we need to make sure we are growing deeper in God’s Word every day.

And then we must proclaim that Word to the people in our Personal Mission Field, as well as to our nation.

God’s Word is sufficient to equip us for every good work (2 Tim. 3.15-17). It is also sufficient to expose those areas of life, culture, and society which fall short of God’s glory and threaten to incur His wrath.

We are the prophets of God for our day. If we fail to hold our leaders – civil and ecclesiastical – as well as ourselves and our neighbors to the lawful standards of God’s Word, for every area of life, we’ll have ourselves to blame when the now-restrained wrath of God breaks upon us with power.

Are you fulfilling your prophetic duty?

Psalm 119.1-4 (Ode to Joy: God, All Nations Sing Thy Glory)
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
all who walk within God’s Law,
Who, His testimonies keeping,
Seek Him, filled with joy and awe.
These are they who, no wrong doing,
Ever walk within God’s ways.
Lord, Your precepts You command us;
We would keep them all our days.

How do I speak Your Word to the rulers of this nation, Lord? Show me, and I will!

We thank God for you
It is our privilege to serve you in this ministry, and our joy to have you share with us in this work. The Lord supports our work through the prayerful and generous gifts of those who share our vision and are served by our ministry. I ask you to seek Him in prayer, whether He might be pleased to use you in this way. You can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction VT 05452.

T. M. Moore
Principal
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All psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.