Mercy triumphs over judgement: New versus Old Testament prophetic ministry (I)

If God never changes, would not prophesy in the Old Testament be exactly the same in the New? Well since Christ, we can all prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:5,31). So you had better hope that it is different, because under the Old Testament if you got it wrong, they had to put you to death (Deuteronomy 18:20). In fact we are told in the New Testament, that we see things imperfectly, and that our prophecy is “in part” (1 Corinthians 13: 12, 9). And a sure implication of this, is that the way we understand how to give and receive a prophetic word has to differ from the Old Testament model. So while God never changes, I thank God this morning, that His way of dealing with us has changed!

Some have understood prophecy as being purely predictive, as in prophet receiving revelation from God pertaining to something that would occur in the future. Certainly, this "foretelling" is a big part of the prophetic in both the Old and the New Testament. The Old Testament for example predicted the Messiah. In the New, Jesus predicted the fall of the Temple. But prophecy is more than foretelling. The prophet Jeremiah’s ministry involved being set over the nations to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant (Jeremiah 1:10). On the other hand, the references to the purpose of prophecy in the New Testament, pertain exclusively to building up, encouragement, comfort and the like (1 Corinthians 14:3; Ephesians 4:12). Some have called this “forth-telling.”

The Old Testament is rife with fulfilled predictions of famine, the withholding of rain, defeat in battle, deportation etc., etc. And this is reflected in Old Testament prophecy. In the New Testament, it’s not that with our Holy God condemnation and punishment no longer apply, but rather they are delayed. We read that unrepentant hearts accumulate “wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5). In other words judgement and condemnation are put off until Judgement Day. Peter tells us the reason for this delay, is because God is longsuffering toward us, and His desire, in the delay, is that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). This being the case, surely this needs to be reflected in the New Testament prophetic model. In particular the way we give and receive prophecy, needs to conform to the purposes (as stated above) of New Testament prophecy. In particular, mercy needs to triumph over judgement (James 2:13). There is more to say!

Father, I am grateful that we are no longer required to stone our rebellious sons and daughters (Deuteronomy 21:18- 21). We love them Lord as you do, even in their rebellion. In the meantime Lord it is our earnest prayer, expectation and sure hope, that You will pour out Your Spirit on them (Isaiah 44:3), that You will teach them, and that their peace will be great (Isaiah 54:13). We trust You to do this Lord for You are faithful to perform Your Word (Jeremiah 1:12), in Jesus Name Amen