Blinded Prophet
Blinded Prophet
I recently came by a book about the renowned New Zealand poet, James K. Baxter (1926-72), who I consider was a prophet.
"Lord, Holy Spirit,
You are the kind fire who does not cease to burn, Consuming us with flames of love and peace, Driving us out like sparks to set the world on fire."
This book came from the library of a posh school. One of its pupils has defaced the book's cover by drawing with gold ink over the prophet's eyes, making him look like a blind man. The more I look at this unbearably sad image, the sicker I feel...and the more stirred up prophetically.
Isaiah taught that the prophets should be "the eyes of the people". (29.10) Yet in the same breath he continues, "But God has blindfolded them...He has covered your heads the seers." Later the prophet asks (42.19), "Who is blind but My servant, or so deaf as My messenger whom I send?" And finally (56.10) he cries out, "His watchmen are blind, all of them know nothing. All of them are dumb dogs unable to bark, dreamers lying down, who love to slumber."
My question today is, Where are God's People right now so far as prophetic understanding ("the times") is concerned? Are we in "the light", "the dark", or some strange "twilight zone"? And if the answer is unclear, is that because those deemed prophets are indeed "blind and dumb"? And if they are, is that entirely through their own fault, or is it because God's People insist upon it being so?
"And Stephen said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.' And they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears..." (Acts 7.56-57)
Is there not a danger in this age of ecclesiastical multi-media and religious consumerism, that our eyes and ears have been drugged and dulled by the Sunday sounds of "a noisy gong or tinkling cymbal"? (1 Corinthians 13.1) Have we perhaps become like those who when they heard "the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words...begged that no further word be spoken to them...for they could not bear the command"? (Hebrews 12.19-20)
I'm very stirred by the picture of a prophet "blinded" by a privileged child. It is as poignant as it is repugnant. Please, let's pray together that the truly-sent seers' eyes and mouths will be wholly opened by the power of the Spirit of Jesus, and that we will have the courage to face (and not shrink from) His words...no matter how unappealing or demanding.
"But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." (Hebrews 10.39)
