When Prophets cease…
The Famous Roman poet Juvenal, in his satirical creation brought up an issue, which turned into a noteworthy declaration about the disorder existing in all higher ups, and the courts of law. It was “Who will guard the guards?” The beginning of the New Year witnessed a couple of uncommon occurrences in the Indian Judicial System. Four senior judges called forward a Press Conference and an open criticism of the acts of the Chief Justice in disagreement with him. The discussions followed this, the responses it earned and its consequences demonstrated that it was in itself something with no precedence and tumultous in nature. The acts of these judges are a brave model against the misuse of offices of power and authority and against reckless lives. This has been due to the involvement of the spirit of God.
“And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meagre fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveller to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity” (2 Sam 12: 1-6).
The rest of the words Nathan would have told pointing at David. His fingers went for David’s eyes and words pierced his heart. Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun”(2 Sam 12:7-12).
The absence of the Prophets and the culpable silence of those who have received the prophetic commission is leading to the rise of false prophets. This results in the ruination, starting from family to all spiritual and social orders. In the Old Testament, the contention of the prophet was with the general population, as well as interminably with the priests. As the priest was not effectively carrying out his duty, he became prey to the correction and the reparative words of the prophet.
God has appointed prophets in all the spheres of life for the purification of his people. You are called to be a prophet in your own circle. However, various feelings of trepidation or the dread of losing or hesitation or one’s own limitations silence many. Parents falter to say no to kids. Authority hesitate to correct those set beneath them. However, the Lord God says “Mortal, I have made you a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, “You shall surely die,” and you give them no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save their life, those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity; but their blood I will require at your hand (Eze 3:16-18). Even many of the preachers are of the ‘pleasing’ kind. There is no one like the prophet Amos to say “I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals, I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps” (Amos 5:21-23). Shouldn’t the spiritual person have the courage to fight injustice, falsehood and anomalies in the family, society and spiritual zones? Or on the other hand, should he be living peacefully and quietly in a kind of spiritual selfishness? Isn’t the fear of rejection which holds back many from this mission? Shouldn’t be anyone out there to say that the Lord has kept a plumb line? (cfr. Amos 7:8). John the Baptist, who addresses the crowd as a brood of vipers and Jesus, who addresses the Pharisees and the scribes as white washed tombs are prophets. If Jesus called the one whom he had called and made to remain with him Satan, why do we hesitate to correct those who love us and our loved ones?
No one takes this mission since they are perfect. But it is a part of the genuine love. The youngsters who don’t listen to any corrections from their parents have a tendency to end up noticeably unfit to confront any stalemates or issues. Isn’t the reason that there is nobody to challenge anybody, there is an increase in the disorder in associations, structures and even in the religious Congregations and communities?
David broke down in front of the pointing finger and the words of Nathan. He repented and it became the reason for further blessings. “The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever; he gave him a covenant of kingship and a glorious throne in Israel”
(Sir 47,11). Let this word of God give us the strength to be corrected and for us to correct!