Prophet or Loss

              Prophet or Loss?
Deut 18.15-20 January 30, 1994
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you
shall heed such a prophet.
Have you ever rediscovered something you lost or had forgotten about? Last week
I picked up a little book off my shelf. It was neglected for a long time. In are entries
written after experiences I had that were deeply moving to me. I leafed through the
pages and ran across Mrs. McNaughton. The name didn't ring any bells. Then I
read.... Then I remembered! If someone reads these vignettes long after I am gone,
they will understand something of how one person of faith reacted to life.
In a little different vein, but analogous to this is Deuteronomy, a book written long
after Moses, based upon what he said and did without exception, but now used by a
new generation to rediscover the meaning of their faith and their life; and to
understand who this man Moses was that God used. They are seeking their identity
after several generations had passed. They were in a new situation. Some of their
young were taken by Molech's practices, running through fire to demonstrate their
devotion to Molech. This was a new world, the new age with its new opportunities
of every kind of expression imaginable. In Exodus God speaks to Moses. In
Deuteronomy, Moses speaks to the people.
Its vocabulary uses the word love to express the gracious concern of God for his
people and the attitude which the people should exhibit toward God. Reference is
made to the God of their fathers. And they are reminded that God choose for the
sake of the world.
I. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the
assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or
ever again see this great fire, I will die." 17 Then the Lord replied to me: "They
are right in what they have said. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you
from among their own people.... In order for them to do what God wants them
to do, they will need a great deal of help.
A. Because what we do flows from what we are.
1. Asked stone-cutters what they did. The first said, "I am paid to cut
stone." The second replied that he used special techniques to shape
stones in an exceptional way, and proceeded to demonstrate his skills.
The third stone-cutter said, "I build cathedrals."
2. That's true of individuals. "I can't do that!" "I will not do that!"
Terry Waite, captured by terrorists in Lebanon is blind folded and
chained to a radiator. He is taken to the toilet where on the tank he
sees a gun. "A thousand thoughts flash through my mind. What are
my chances of escaping? If I pick up that automatic I just be prepared
to use it. What have I said repeatedly to my captors about the use of
violence? Now that I am in a tight corner have I any right to use
Dr. Arthur J. Landwehr Prophet or Loss? © 1