“But that same night, the word of Adonai came to Natan: ‘Go and tell my servant David that this is what Adonai says: ‘You are going to build me a house to live in? Since the day I brought the people of Israel out of Egypt until today, I never lived in a house; rather, I traveled in a tent and a tabernacle. Everywhere I traveled with all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word to any of the tribes of Israel, whom I ordered to shepherd my people Israel, asking, “Why haven’t you built me a cedar-wood house?”’-2 Samuel 7:4-7
When David informs his prophet Natan that he desires to build a Temple for the Lord…
Natan tells him…
“Go, do everything that is in your heart, for Adonai is with you.”
Yet immediately afterward, God calls Natan over and scolds him for putting words in His mouth.
So what gives?
Wasn’t Natan a prophet of God which meant any words that came out of his mouth were infallible?
Well, not so fast, homies.
That’s a common misconception we have about prophets.
We tend to put them up on a pedestal…
And assume everything they say is divinely approved.
That’s not necessarily the case.
They are just regular humans like you and me.
They are capable of making mistakes and falling into sin like the rest of us.
What a Prophet says is only perfect when he communicates the message he received from the Lord UNCENSORED!
Ya feel me?
They aren’t necessarily great theologians or religious leaders.
The truth is Natan’s assumption that building an Ark was what God wanted was the epitome of recklessness.
So lemme repeat myself.
A prophet is an ordinary dude like you and me.
The only difference is that he has been chosen to deliver God’s perfect oracle to either the people or the King.
Any other statements reflecting a prophet’s subjective ideas or thoughts are NOT divine and should be treated as such.
Ya feel me?
The takeaway is don’t assume everything your pastor, preacher, or teacher says automatically aligns with divine truth.
And that includes everything you come across in this blog.
You’ve gotta test everything against God’s Word.
And that includes the New Testament!
Even the Apostle Paul made it a point to admit his words weren’t necessarily infallible.
Remember, God’s Torah (instructions) were given to ALL the people at Mount Sinai, not just a select few.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that
if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever,
and she consents to live with him,
he should not divorce her.”
-1 Corinthians 7:12
“Now concerning the betrothed,
I have no command from the Lord,
but I give my judgment as one
who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.”
-1 Corinthians 7:25
“Yet in my judgment,
she is happier if she
remains as she is.
And I think that I too
have the Spirit of God.”
-1 Corinthians 7:40
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