I find it interesting that so many of my politically liberal friends and colleagues who “prophetically” denounced the toxicity of the recent GOP administration (I often agreed with them), are strangely silent about the toxicity of the present Democrat administration. It appears that both major parties have court prophets on the payroll.
An ancient Christian preacher declared,
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do (Hebrews 4:12-13).
The “word of God” of which the preacher speaks is not the written word, but the spoken word, that is, prophetic words that are uttered against those who have acted in disobedience towards God (cf. Hebrews 4:6, 11). These prophetic words are “living and active”, that is, the Spirit-inspired words of God act to confront the kingdoms and nations of this world and have the power to “uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow” and “build up and plant” (Jeremiah 1:10 NLT). The prophetic word speaks life and death, salvation and judgment. To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus prophetically spoke words of life: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11 ESV). To Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the Holy Spirit, Peter pronounced judgement and death (Acts 5:1ff).
The word of God is “sharper than any two-edged sword,” which suggest that the prophetic word is a weapon with which God confronts enemies of God’s kingdom. Notice the words used to describe how the prophetic word of God acts: the word pierces, divides, judges, and lays bare. This is the language of slaughter, the language of violent warfare, the language of a butcher. It is reminiscent of the prophet Samuel executing the Amalekite king:
And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal (1 Samuel 15:33).
We should keep in mind that just before Samuel executed Agag, he had also denounced Saul (1 Samuel 15:26-28). Samuel’s only allegiance was to the purpose of God. Likewise, other canonical prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, could prophesy against the injustices of the throne of David and the idolatries of the nations with the same breath.
Authentic prophets are non-partisan witnesses to the kingdom of God who confront the corruption of this present age. I suspect that the partisan court prophets of the right and left will themselves fall prey to the sharp two-edge sword that is the word of God.
Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord God. “So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people… that you may know that I am the Lord God (Eze 13:8-9).
The violent wind of God’s wrath will bring judgment against those who lie in the name of God (Ezekiel 13:13).
But false prophets… will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves (2 Peter 2:1).
