SDfAoWOP: a Prophet

Day Thirty-Five

II Kings 3:11

And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of The Lord here, through whom we may inquire of The Lord?”

Ahab and Jehoshaphat sit in their great chairs and consider the battle before them. Their alliance is suspect, a dubious and compromising friendship. Jehoshaphat should know better. Desiring both to serve God but to have good relationships with his neighbors in the world, he teeters on the brink of unfaithfulness and trouble.

Is there no prophet, he asks, through whom we may inquire of The Lord?

It's a good question always to stop and ask. Has God spoken? Is there something I should know before I do this foolish act? Most of us walk a narrow line between the world and the plans and purposes of God, knowing that if we stop and inquire too deeply we will not enjoy the plans and purposes of God. And so we extremely careful not to read all the words the prophets have already spoken, and if we read them, to not read them too closely.

Hmm, ought I forgive this person I hate? Ought I let them off the hook? Or should I just carry on being very busy and not having time to think about anything?

Or, should I conduct this extremely beneficial business transaction with the world? I best not think about it too much before I scrawl in my own hand my dim associations with the world.

Or, should I stand here in the kitchen of the church and neglect to speak with those whose emotional and financial and spiritual needs seem a great tidal wave that will definitely overwhelm me?

Is there a prophet? Has God spoken?

He has, but the answer will be the death of you.