Prophets for Whom I Am Thankful
Here are four Old Testament prophets for whom I am thankful: Isaiah, Micah, Habakkuk, and Zechariah. If they had not obeyed, recording the inspired thoughts God sent, I would never know the assurance and relief their prophecies express. So, here are listed a few of their prophecies I hold dear.
From the first prophet, Isaiah, there is this:
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt, and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”
Micah has become the second of the prophets for whom I am thankful. In his chapter four, he wrote:
“In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains, it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’
The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples, and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid.”
Years later, I found a favorite of mine deeper in the fourth chapter, which I don’t think many people notice. However, because I have Cerebral Palsy, it holds particular meaning for me.
“‘In that day,’ declares the Lord, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles, and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.
As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”
The third of these prophets for whom I am thankful, is Habakkuk, who has this to say:
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen or cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.”
The fourth prophet for whom I am thankful, Zechariah, offers this promise:
“‘This is what the Lord Almighty says:’ “Just as I had determined to bring disaster upon you and showed no pity when your fathers angered me” says the Lord Almighty, “so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah.
Do not be afraid. These are the things you are to do: Speak truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.”
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Ruth DeMaat
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