Biblical Prophetism: God’s Vehicle for Social and Political Change

Abstract

The purpose of prophetic ministry is to bring revelation, direction, correction, and encouragement to individuals, churches, and even entire nations. Prophetic ministry has a long history in the Christian faith, with numerous examples found throughout the Old and New Testament. Prophets are human beings with divine call and message for a specific audience. The call of the prophet should therefore be a basic and fundamental experience in his life. This experience gives legitimacy to his office, authority to his message and urgency to his preaching. In ancient Israel the prophets speak on behalf of Yahweh, on political, religious and social issues of their time. The institution of prophecy is founded on the basic premise that God does not abandon humans to their own devices, but provides them with divine guidance. Each of the prophets knew the burden that God had given them over a particular situation and to the particular people or person. Therefore, prophetic ministry is seen in the Old Testament, as God raising up prophets to encourage and rebuke the nation of Israel in times of trouble or rebellion. It became obvious that the prophets in ancient Israel served as a medium in bringing the people back to God, turning away from their evil ways and so instituting Social Change and reform in the society. This paper investigates using the historical and theological interpretative approach Biblical prophetism its implication on Nigerian political and social atmosphere. The paper reasons that there is a wide disparity between prophets in ancient Israel and the ones in Nigeria. The Nigerian prophets are off the Biblical provisions for prophetic ministry hence lacking the forceful voice to effect any change politically and socially at the national level. This paper suggests a- going back to the bible as test book for the prophets of our time in Nigeria. The paper concludes that there is the need for the prophets in Nigeria to be bold, true to their calling and discharge their duty without fear or favour.