Connect 1 Samuel 9:9 with Hebrews 1:1-2 on God's communication methods. Two Passages, One Divine Voice “Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he would say, ‘Come, let us go to the seer,’ for the prophet of today was formerly called a seer.” “On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.” Old Covenant Snapshot: Prophets Called “Seers” • Israel’s earliest term for a prophet was “seer,” highlighting the revelatory vision God granted (cf. 1 Samuel 3:1, 10). • The people understood that hearing from God required going to a human intermediary endowed with supernatural sight. • These seers revealed God’s guidance for daily decisions (as Saul sought about his donkeys) and national direction (as Samuel did for Israel). Progressive Revelation: God’s Variety of Methods • Dreams (Genesis 37:5-10) • Visions (Ezekiel 1:1) • Audible voice (Exodus 3:4) • Angelic messengers (Daniel 9:21) • Symbolic acts (Jeremiah 13:1-11) Hebrews 1:1 affirms this rich tapestry: “many past occasions” and “many different ways.” Culmination in Christ: The Final Word • “In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.” • Jesus embodies revelation—“The Word became flesh” (John 1:14); “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). • Unlike fragmentary messages through seers, Christ gives the full disclosure of God’s character (Colossians 1:15-19). • The Son’s authority is unrivaled: heir of all things, Creator of the ages (Hebrews 1:2). Continuity and Contrast Similarities • Same God initiating the conversation. • Human recipients still dependent on grace to hear. • Message consistently calls for faith and obedience (Deuteronomy 18:19; Hebrews 2:1-3). Differences • Then: multiple spokesmen, partial glimpses. • Now: one Spokesman, complete revelation. • Then: titles emphasized function (“seer”). • Now: title emphasizes relationship—“Son.” • Then: guidance for a nation; • Now: gospel for all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). Scripture’s Sufficiency Today • The prophetic and apostolic writings converge to testify of Christ (Luke 24:27; 2 Peter 1:19-21). • The closed canon preserves God’s spoken word; no new seers are needed to add to it (Jude 3). • The Holy Spirit illuminates the written Word, not replacing it but applying it (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Living in Light of God’s Final Word • Treasure the Scriptures as God’s completed speech—clear, reliable, enduring (Psalm 19:7-11). • Submit to the supremacy of Christ’s teaching, trusting its relevance for every era (Matthew 24:35). • Discern modern claims of revelation by measuring them against the biblical record (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). • Proclaim the Son’s message with confidence, knowing God’s communication climaxed at the cross and empty tomb (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). |
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