Many years ago, while attending a church where we occasionally worshiped, the guest speaker was “Prophet So and So.” As he was closing the service, he had a “word” for — and he described me. It has been my practice, in situations like this, to write down what has been prophesied. The important reason for this is to remember clearly what has been spoken … and weigh it against Deuteronomy 18:21–22. Not one of his words came true, especially the part about monetary resources, lol. 

Now I believe in prophesy. It is biblical, e.g. Ephesians 4:11; “he gave…the prophets…” Their unique gifting was to have the same effect as the other gifts, “equipping saints for ministry and building up the body.” The role of the prophet is to represent God to the people. In Deuteronomy 18:18, God raises up a prophet and puts his words in this prophet’s mouth to be given to the people that God has chosen to hear them. Now that’s a mouthful, but every Sunday, “prophets” stand before God’s people in many different settings and the people often walk away unscathed. Deuteronomy 18:19 is a solemn reminder that to ignore God’s Word will one day come back on us…”I Myself will call him, (her), to account.”

Prophesy is not fortune telling. The Jewish Study Bible comments on verse 18, “The prophet’s oracles do not originate from deities, from dead spirits, from skilled manipulation of objects or from the prophet’s own reflections. God instead affirms, ‘I will put my words in his mouth.’”

As we reflect on all of God’s words in these passages, remember once again the words of the prophet Paul the apostle — “the things you have heard me say and seen me do, put them into practice!” (Phil. 4:9).

Thank you, Yahweh, for revealing to us what is important to you.

David Van Huisen