Topical Bible: Government: Mosaic: Seeks Counsel from Prophets

◄ Government: Mosaic: Seeks Counsel from Prophets ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the governance structure established by Moses, the role of prophets was integral to guiding the nation of Israel according to divine will. The Mosaic government, as outlined in the Pentateuch, was a theocratic system where God was recognized as the ultimate authority. Prophets served as intermediaries between God and the people, providing counsel and direction to the leaders of Israel.

Role of Prophets in Mosaic Government

Prophets in the Mosaic era were chosen by God to deliver His messages to the people and their leaders. They were often called upon to provide guidance in times of crisis, to deliver warnings, and to offer counsel on matters of national importance. The prophet's role was not merely advisory but was seen as conveying the very words of God, which carried divine authority.

Biblical Examples

One of the earliest examples of seeking prophetic counsel is found in the relationship between Moses and his brother Aaron, who served as his spokesperson (Exodus 4:14-16). Although Aaron was not a prophet in the traditional sense, this partnership illustrates the importance of divinely appointed guidance in leadership.

In the wilderness, Moses himself acted as a prophet, receiving direct communication from God and conveying His laws and commandments to the Israelites. Numbers 12:6-8 highlights the unique prophetic relationship Moses had with God: "He said, 'Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. But this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.'"

As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses instructed them to heed the words of future prophets. Deuteronomy 18:18-19 records God's promise: "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name."

Prophetic Counsel in Leadership Decisions

The Mosaic government often relied on prophetic counsel for making critical decisions. For instance, when the Israelites faced military challenges, they sought the Lord's guidance through prophets. In Judges 4:4-7 , Deborah, a prophetess and judge, provided Barak with God's command to lead an army against Sisera, assuring him of divine victory.

Similarly, in 1 Samuel 9:9 , it is noted that "Formerly in Israel, when 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 the seer." This passage underscores the established practice of seeking divine counsel through prophets.

Prophets as Guardians of the Covenant

Prophets also served as guardians of the covenant between God and Israel, calling the people and their leaders back to faithfulness. They were instrumental in reminding the nation of its obligations under the Mosaic Law and warning of the consequences of disobedience. This role is exemplified in the ministry of prophets like Samuel, who anointed kings and provided them with divine guidance, and Nathan, who confronted King David with his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-7).

Conclusion

The Mosaic government, with its reliance on prophetic counsel, reflects a deep commitment to aligning national governance with divine will. Prophets were not only advisors but were seen as the mouthpieces of God, ensuring that the leaders of Israel remained faithful to their covenantal obligations. Through their guidance, the nation was continually directed towards righteousness and obedience to God's commands.

Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 8:1
And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there on me.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 14:1
Then came certain of the elders of Israel to me, and sat before me.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 20:1,3
And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
Nave's Topical Index

Joel 1:14
Sanctify you a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry to the LORD,
Nave's Topical Index

Joel 2:16
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Unity of Revelation. 1 "Known unto God are all his Works from ...
... 8. The stern character of the Mosaic dispensation is ... He seeks, on the contrary, to
illumine what is ... being and attributes, his providential government over man ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvi the unity of.htm

The Poetical Books (Including Also Ecclesiastes and Canticles).
... of the Hebrew poets to the Mosaic law has ... costume of poetic thought, which always
seeks to embody ... of the justice of God's providential government over men. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxi the poetical books.htm

The Epistles of Paul.
... gospel, but in addressing the Corinthians, he seeks only to ... faith and by the works
of the Mosaic law, such ... of the day; (2) to superintend the government of the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxx the epistles of.htm

And ii.
... as indeed material power everywhere seeks for such ... to the predictions of the
prophets"compare especially ... It does not refer to the constant government of the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

The First Epistle of St. Peter
... i.3-12 and the following counsel upon the ... he turns to describe Christians in a mosaic
of OT ... sensitive to loyalty, and with a government intensely suspicious of ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the first epistle of st.htm

The Bible in the Life of To-Day
... of the whole, the ideas in it, seeks to find ... God reigns and the government at Washington
still lives ... inscribed on their tombstones; its Mosaic commonwealth they ...
/.../mcafee/study of the king james bible/lecture vi the bible in.htm

On the Interpretation of Scripture
... disposition to condemn the scholar who seeks to interpret ... back some thousand years
before the Mosaic chronology; recent ... to do with the Roman government or the ...
/.../on the interpretation of scripture.htm

The Holy War,
... effect this great object, the Mosaic dispensation"the ... and subtilty displayed in Satan's
counsel, are described ... Saviour, who should bear the government of the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy war.htm

Answer to Eunomius' Second Book .
... not have been safer for all, following the counsel of wisdom ... look to the sacred company
of the Prophets and Patriarchs ... some faint glimpse of what it seeks to know ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/answer to eunomius second book.htm