Prophet

A prophet was a spokesperson for God; they spoke in God’s name and by God’s authority (Ex. 7:1). A prophet is the mouth by which God speaks to humankind (Jer. 1:9; Isa. 51:16), and hence what the prophet says is not of human origin but of God.
via Easton’s Bible Dictionary

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord God does nothing. without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

A Word the People Need to Hear

Go up to the average person in the pew and ask for a definition of a prophet. Chances are you will get one of two responses:
1. The prophet is a social reformer. They have much to say about the social, economic, political, and religious abuses of the times in which they lived. At the same time, to call the prophets simply social reformers is not enough.
2. The prophet is one who predicts the future. The prophets do have many things to say about the future, especially words of judgment and promise, but “announce” or “proclaim” would be better.
Let me suggest this definition: A prophet is a man or woman dispatched by God with a word of judgment or promise for a critical moment in the history of God’s people. What word from God do people need to hear?
– Terence E. Fretheim in “What is a Prophet?” Gather Magazine (1998)

Reflection & Prayer

Though we may readily welcome a word of promise from a prophetic voice, a word of judgement may not be received the same way. How do you respond to a difficult word that you know you needed to hear?