“The God of Israel spoke;
The Rock of Israel said to me,”
-2 Samuel 23:3
Scripture uses a formula when introducing divine prophecy or an oracle from God.
We see it in the opening verses of 2nd Samuel Chapter 23.
So what is it?
Simple.
Whenever Scripture clearly claims that what is being said is God’s direct words, that means those words are divinely inspired.
That’s it, homie!
Verse 3 from this chapter (copied and pasted above) clearly says, “The God of Israel spoke.”
Or how about all of the times in the Torah we find the expression, “And thus the Lord says.”
These are to be taken as speech proceeding directly from the mouth of the Almighty Himself.
But here’s the thing.
Most of the Bible does NOT contain direct statements from Adonai Himself.
Especially the New Testament, of which 50% is direct quotes from the book the Gentiles call the “Old” Testament.
Ya feel me?
Most of Scripture is comprised of statements made by regular humans under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The words themselves are their own words.
But they were said after being inspired or enlightened by God in some area.
Are you feeling me here?
In other words, God led these men, and then they spoke in their own words.
A divine oracle, however, is a different beast altogether.
If a prophet says, “This is a message from God.”
Well, then you had best believe his words are NOT originating from his own imagination.
What he’s saying is a direct utterance from the Lord.
And it is the prophet’s duty to communicate it without any editing or modification.
Are ya feeling me here?
The words of a prophet are to be treated as divine oracles and are greater than the words of even the greatest of heroes in the Bible.
This is actually an area where I agree with most Bible scholars.
Essentially, there are two levels of divine inspiration in Scripture.
Divine oracles (direct quotes) from the Lord Himself.
And the words of men who spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Of course, this would include the words of the Messiah.
So don’t let the idea of differing levels of divine inspiration get you all hot and bothered like it does a lot of people.
This was exactly how the ecumenical councils decided which writings and historical accounts would be considered Scripture, and which would not.
This is also EXACTLY how the New Testament came into being.
And the same goes for the Tanach (the Hebrew Bible or “Old” Testament) as well, but to a lesser extent.
So today, instead of a takeaway, lemme end with a question that is for sure guaranteed to trigger some major explosions in the cerebral arena.
What do you say about the words of Yeshua?
Are the words of the Messiah divine oracles?
Or are they the words of a divinely anointed man who spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?
Lemme know in the comments below.
Until next time, stay frosty!
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“For I have not spoken on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded
me what to say and how to speak.”
– John 12:49
“I can do nothing on my own.
As I hear, I judge;
and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of him who sent me.”
– John 5:30
“The words that I say to you
I do not speak on my own authority,
But the Father who dwells in me
does his works.”
– John 14:10
“Yeshua answered them,
‘My teaching is not mine,
but his who sent me.'”
– John 7:16
“All things have been handed
over to me by my Father,
and no one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom
the Son chooses to reveal him.”
– Matthew 11:27
“But he answered, ‘It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes
from the mouth of God.”
– Matthew 4:4
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all the truth;
for he will not speak on his own,
but will speak whatever he hears,
and he will declare to you the
things that are to come.”
– John 16:13
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