Prophecy - Prophecy can be profitable – find some people who what to hear what you have to say – tell them what they want to hear, and money can be made – It does not even have to be many people, as long a they have money and are willing to spend it – this is it the situation in 8th Century BC – the time Amos is a prophet and says that “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets”
The Israelites have seen the Kingdom built by King David split, there are now two kingdoms, one in the north – to be confusing, called Israel, and one in the south called Judah. Each King has their own company of prophets to guide them, - and surprises, surprises – the different companies of prophet’s prophesy different things depending on who has hired them. And it is not just two different sets of prophets for different kings, - there are also competing temples - there is the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, but that is in Judah, the southern kingdom and the king of Israel in the north does not want his people going to someone else’s kingdom to worship, so he built two knew temples against the laws of the Old Testament, one in Bethel and one in Dan. Each of the temples has a company of prophets who – surprise surprises, says you should worship at their temple and give your money that temple.
These self-proclaimed prophets are clearly not true prophets – Their prophecies match the wishes of whoever pays them. They got the job either by being rhetorically skilled or inheriting the job from their father. In the end, these “prophets” are only right when who they are prophesying for, are right – if one looked hard enough, or paid enough money, there was a “prophet” ready to give the prophecy one desired.
So in the 8th Century BC, so also today. There are still plenty of self-proclaimed prophets, whether talking heads on TV, in books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, facebook, youtube, or twitter. And it can still be quite profitable, just check how much money a bestselling book, blog, or top youtuber can make. If one wants to find someone saying what you want to hear – it can be found.
But in contrast to these sorts of false prophecies - GK Chesterton, thinking about the teachings of religion writes – “We do not really want a religion that is right where we are right. What we want is a religion that is right where we are wrong”
Chesterton makes an important point. At least for myself, I don’t need anyone’s help telling myself that I am right – trust me - I am very good at that already. The challenge is knowing when I am wrong, that I am not nearly as good at. I don’t like to find out I am wrong about anything – I don’t think anyone does like to be wrong. But, especially in our faith, it can be important know when we are mistaken, that we might better live out our faith better and come closer to God - this is where true prophecy can come in to help.
When we think of prophets and prophecy, we often think of predictions about the future, but a better understanding is God’s message and messenger. While there are sometimes things about the future in God’s message, usually the message is about how to live in the present. Prophecy is about God calling his people back to himself and his covenant when his people have gone astray. – helping to restore his people to right relation with God - However, there is a big challenge prophecy, especial given the extent of self-proclaimed prophets - who is actually a prophet? This has always been a challenge throughout history and always will be – there is not an easy answer to give - But example of the prophet Amos might shed some light.
Amos was a prophet during the time of all these different companies of prophets in the 8th Century BC, it is to them that Amos says that “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets.” – He is not telling anyone how right they are or what they want to hear, but to call them back to the Lord.
Amos was prophesying around the temple in Bethel – that the temple is Bethel is not a legitimate temple, the only real temple of the Lord is in Jerusalem. He is prophesying around the wealthy – about the plight of the poor and God’s care for the poor.
This calling back to God is one way to help know a true prophet. As a prophet is God’s messenger – if the prophet points away from God, he is no prophet.
A second way to help identify a true prophet is the life of the prophet – does he live what he preaches - does he live a life of virtue and humility? Amos was not prophesying in a place he liked or wanted to be - Amos is giving his prophecies in the northern kingdom of Israel – but is from the southern kingdom of Judah – He is not currying favor or seeking wealth, he was a shepherd and dresser of sycamores – Not exactly a high class Job –– These show that Amos was only prophesying because he has been called, by God to bring his message – he did gaining personally from his prophecy.
The focus of the message on God and the virtue of the person giving the message can be two ways to help identify a true prophet. And this is a guide that we can use today - We don’t hear the language of prophet and prophecy often in the Church today - we talk of preachers and teachers – but there are teachers and preachers in the Church who are serving God’s call, proclaim the message of God and living it out virtuously, the two things noted about the prophet Amos. They are not necessarily flashy on the TV – usually they are not - often they are simple members of the parish - possibly a catechist or youth ministers, as Amos was a simple shepherd.
So when we hear something that we disagree with, let us not just ignore it or go searching for someone else that well tell us what we want to hear. - instead, let us slow down and take a minute in prayer, consider the person who gave us the message and ask – Is it possible that what I think might be wrong? – Is this calling me back to God? After all – what we want is “a religion that is right where we are wrong.” And if we were mistaken? Let us give thanks to God that we have been corrected and have drawn closer to God.