The Character Of A True Prophet

The Character Of A True Prophet 

I Kings 22:17-18 NKJV

[17] Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ” [18] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

In 2010, Ed Grub told this story to demonstrate the difference between the fake and the real. " A certain jewelry store sold man-made stones as though they were priceless, natural gems. This was happening for years and scores of men & women bought what they thought were precious stones. No one questioned the authenticity until someone with trained eyes pointed out they were man-made. How were people deceived? The counterfeit looked remarkably like the real. The difference was not noticeable unless you had a trained eye. First you have to establish the criteria for the authentic: look at a real stone under a magnifying glass. Then will you be trained concerning what to look for in the counterfeit." No matter how much the fake tries to imitate the real, someone will find out one day.

     There are things to watch out in the life of a true prophet that sets them apart unto God. J. Cunningham Geikie addressed this matter in Bible Hub. He points out the following characteristics of a true prophet:

      *They may have a stern message   

       to deliver as Jeremiah had too. 

        Jer.26:4-7

      * They do not  diminish from the w

         ord no matter how unpopular or

         unpleasant 

     * A true prophet will speak 

           fearlessly 

     * A true prophet is promised the 

         backing of God

     * A true prophet will speak peace 

           as well as wrath as God 

            demands

It is as if he sat down to draw a portrait of Prophet Micaiah. The king of Israel concluded that the Prophet doesn't like him. 

    When the King of Israel said he should be returned to jail, Micaiah added the concluding part of the prophecy. “...If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” Boldness. And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”( I Kings 22:28 ). The rest was left for God to defend. And God did it. A true prophet delivers God's inspiration. It doesn't have to favour anyone. Its God's position on earth. Good morning.