Topical Bible: Prophets were Required: To Declare Everything That the Lord Commanded

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In the biblical narrative, prophets hold a significant role as the mouthpieces of God, tasked with conveying His messages to the people. This responsibility was not taken lightly, as prophets were required to declare everything that the Lord commanded them, without omission or alteration. This entry explores the biblical foundation for this requirement and its implications.

Biblical Foundation

The role of the prophet as a divine messenger is established early in the Scriptures. In Deuteronomy 18:18-19, God speaks to Moses, saying, "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" . This passage underscores the expectation that prophets must faithfully communicate God's words.

Jeremiah, one of the major prophets, exemplifies this requirement. In Jeremiah 1:7, the Lord instructs him, "Do not say, ‘I am only a child,’ for to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak" . Jeremiah's prophetic ministry was marked by his unwavering commitment to declare God's messages, even in the face of opposition and personal suffering.

The Consequences of Disobedience

The Scriptures also highlight the severe consequences for prophets who fail to declare God's commands fully. In Ezekiel 3:17-18, God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman for Israel, saying, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you accountable for his blood" . This passage illustrates the grave responsibility placed upon prophets to deliver God's warnings without fail.

The Integrity of the Prophetic Message

The integrity of the prophetic message is paramount, as it reflects the character and will of God. In Deuteronomy 13:1-5, the Israelites are warned against false prophets who might lead them astray. The passage emphasizes that true prophets must speak in accordance with God's commands, and any deviation is a sign of falsehood. This reinforces the necessity for prophets to adhere strictly to the divine message entrusted to them.

Examples of Faithful Prophetic Ministry

Several prophets in the Bible exemplify the faithful execution of their divine mandate. Moses, as the quintessential prophet, delivered God's laws and commandments to the Israelites, ensuring that nothing was left unsaid. Similarly, Isaiah and Daniel conveyed visions and prophecies with precision, often at great personal risk.

The New Testament also reflects this principle. In Acts 20:27, the Apostle Paul, though not a prophet in the Old Testament sense, echoes this commitment by declaring, "For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God" . This continuity underscores the enduring expectation for God's messengers to faithfully proclaim His word.

Conclusion

The biblical mandate for prophets to declare everything that the Lord commanded is a testament to the seriousness of their calling. This requirement ensured that the people received God's guidance, warnings, and promises in their entirety, preserving the integrity of the divine message throughout the ages.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 26:2
Thus said the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command you to speak to them; diminish not a word:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Progress of the Gospel from the Death of Christ to the Death ...
... Stephen was stoned, the witnesses, who were required to take ... his prudence, and his
pious ardour were all calculated ... "In those days came prophets from Jerusalem ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iv the progress of.htm

Of Councils and their Authority.
... mouth (Mal.2:7). This he always required of the ... Again, "Beware of false prophets,
which come to you ... into exile, and many similar crimes were committed, because ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 9 of councils and.htm

The Teaching of Add??us the Apostle.
... have any other work beside the ministry; and whatsoever is required by thee ... who were
familiar with the law and the prophets"they too were persuaded, and ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents the teaching.htm

The Relation of Christ to Prophecy, Continued.
... to them, not so much because they were good, as ... the things thus signified, we are
not required to observe ... the fulfillment of the law and the prophets is found ...
/.../the relation of christ to.htm

The Sabbath
... the observance of the Sabbath, as He required it, made ... upon a nation of witnesses
who were seeking occasion ... to set aside what patriarchs and prophets had spoken ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 29 the sabbath.htm

John ix. 29
... in spirit of those who had killed the prophets; because, although ... All that was required
of the Jews, was not to ... only as, by their very nature, were not eternal ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xxxiii john ix 29.htm

Faustus Avows his Disbelief in the Old Testament and his Disregard ...
... unto them." [354] When God, by the prophets, repeatedly declares that ... an ox with
an ass where it is required. ... the shadow in which future things were veiled, is ...
/.../faustus avows his disbelief in.htm

The Bible --The Background and the Picture.
... were not in the power of false prophets, magicians, or ... The question is often asked,
"Why were they not ... who knew best what man's nature required ordained that ...
/.../the biblethe background and the.htm

Letter Lxxxii. (AD 405. )
... Jews who become Christians were either required or at ... were to protest against it,
boldly declare that the ... we read that "the law and the prophets were until John ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lxxxii a d 405.htm

Introduction.
... to God, it stands alone amongst his dispensations; his prophets and his ... and wonders
wrought in Egypt and in the Red Sea, were justly required to give ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/introduction.htm