Wycliffe College - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 15 text:

Me Hope of the Jews: The Prophet like llnfo Moses ln the NT John the Baptist was question- ed whether he was the prophet Un. 1.21j. At the feeding of the Five Thousand the people exclaimed of Jesus that he was surely the prophet that cometh into the world Un. 6.14 comp. 7.4OJ. And in the early Christ- ian preaching the prophet was identified as Jesus fActs 3.22j. Who then was the prophet the Jewish people were expecting? What traits identified him as Jesus? If you turn to nearly any modern com- mentary on Deut. 18.15-19 you will see the words of lVloses: the LORD . . .will raise up unto thee a prophet . . . like unto me inter- preted as a line of prophets in Israel's history. Why is it that modern commentators see a line of prophets where the ancient Jews saw a single prophet? Let us examine the modern view. The context of Dt. 18.15 discusses the ancient practice of seeking supernatural guid- ance through sorcery, divination, necromancy, etc. fDt. 18.10-111: what we today call the occult. lsrael too desired divine guidance. But God informed them it was not to come through those means but through His provision of divinely appointed prophets. But instead of saying a line of prophets He merely said prophet as signifying that line. Now, there are four major flaws in this argument. But basic to them all is that such an interpretation fails to take the written words at face value and does not understand them as they were spoken. The words are interpreted from the perspective of Israel's history. In other words Israel's prophetic order is read back into them. First, divine guidance was provided for Israel in the Urim and Thummim: fapparentlyt two flat stones which were cast as lots fof Prov. 16.331, and recorded either two negative Urim or two positive Thummim. One negative and one positive meant that the LORD gave no answer fl Sam. 28.6j. Secondly, prophets are not recorded as part of Israelite life until many years after lVloses's death. Until Samuel, a few centuries later, only two people are named prophets: one a woman, Deborah fJud. 4.41 and the other an unnamed man lJud. 6.8L This goes to show that the apparent importance of the prophetic order seen in connection with Dt. 18.15 is not at all the impression sub- sequent Hebrew history conveys. Thirdly, if a line of prophets had been meant, the plural could easily have been em- ployed. It has been argued that the prophet in Dt. 18.15 is spoken of in the same manner as the king in Dt. 17.14. There we read, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations. The king, it is argued, really represents a line of kings. But if one examines this context it be- comes apparent that an-once-and-for-all choos- ing ofa single king is here intended. lt looks forward to a crisis in lsrael's history when she will have to decide which man to choose. The fourth point is that Dt. 34.10 echoes Dt. 18 in stating that there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto lVloses. The Israelites recognized that the prophet of Dt. 18 had not as yet arisen. What then were the prophet's character- istics? He was to be like unto lVloses. Moses wasthe great Lawgiver and Teacher fDt. 4.14l, the father of a new nation, the people's inter- cessor fDt. 9.25-265 who even U1 died because of them QDt. 4.21-22 comp1.37D. Prznters and Stationers since 1880 177 FRONT STREET EAST TORONTO 229 CANADA 363 7061 Cllezooerr NEWSOME AND GILBERT. LIMITED

Page 14 text:

A NON-DENOMINATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE CLERGY Pres byte rian MINISTERSf FUND LIFE IINISLJFKAINICDE Uk 'Ecology 0 CPI'-Jople Ecology is more than means the I important part of that pleasure for the 250 years. The F clothing, shelter, developed to sufficient for the is only as strong as sentative's property from from PMF also At PMF keeps the family ecological balance healthy. two centuries of skies. Ecology as families. An , education and for families. was ever in planning chain repre- producing the Policies years. today 's investment NORTH ANIERICA'S FIRST LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY 6

Page 16 text:

Furthermore, the prophet was promised at the giving of the Law fDt. 18.161. It is strange to think that in the midst of this great covenant-ratification God should promise a prophet. And yet we learn that there was something intrinsically right about the request. fDt. 18.171. An interesting observation is that the prophet was promised at the request pl Moses. Elsewhere we learn that the people pleaded with Moses to speak with God and to tell them what He had said fEx. 20.195 Dt. 5.271. They could not bear to stand before God fDt. 5.251. They recognized that if God was to manifest Himself to man it would have to be through a mediator. It is true that Israel received divinely appointed prophets. But each prophet in falling short of the traits outlined in Dt. 18 pointed forward to a Coming Prophet. When we turn to the NT we see these traits in Jesus. Everywhere we see Him as the Great Teacher lMatt. 7.295 Jn. 7.461. St. Matthew depicts Him as the Second Moses. ln the Sermon on the Mount Jesus goes up into the mountain and delivers the laws of the king- dom lMatt. 5-71. Jesus came to create a new congregation, the Church QMatt. 16.181. He was His people's intercessor U.k. 22.31, 325 Jn. 17.9, 11, 15, 201 who came to give His life a Ransom for many fMk. 10.451. Jesus acted and taught only what He had received from His Father lJn. 5.19, 205 12.49, 501. St. John tells us that no man has ever yet seen God's nature. But Jesus who was in intimate fellow- ship with God came to earth to manifest Him Un. 1.18 comp. 6.461. The Jews of Jesus' day were looking for the prophet like unto Moses. They had standards by which to judge. Imagine the excitement of an early Christian disciple who had been with Jesus as He read Moses's testimo- ny concerning the Coming Prophet suddenly realizing all this fulfilled in Jesus! f congratulations, you've made it! . . . but there's still more to learn about yourself, that is. And the community, and people. And life. Let's talk about it. Call us at 923-1168 or write for a brochure. CENTRE FUR CHRISTIAN STUDIES 77 Charles Street West Toronto 181, Ontario EN EW