Confidential Informant
But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 2 Chronicles 11:2 NASB
Shemaiah – The prophet’s role is to deliver a message from God. It is not his message. He is merely the messenger. But to be a messenger requires a certain kind of relationship with the One sending the message. In this case, the name of the prophet tells us not only about this man of God but also about his relationship with God. The name is Shemaiah. It consists of two parts, shema and yahh, both easily recognizable. In combination they mean “Yah hears.” But this isn’t what we would expect of the name of a prophet. We would expect “Yah says,” something like Amariah. This name, Shemaiah, suggests something more than the delivery of a message. It suggests that the prophet plays another role. He is the wireless listening post for God, not just the wireless microphone of God. It is the observation of the prophet, his ability to hear what is happening in the society, that moves God to act. We often speak of someone being the mouthpiece of God, but now perhaps we should add another role, that is, being the ears of God.
This name, Shemaiah, tells us something else. God does not choose everyone to deliver messengers to the populace, but perhaps there is a prophetic role for everyone. If we think of ourselves as God’s listeners, then all that we communicate to God is also part of the prophetic process. And God posts listeners everywhere. When we communicate with God in prayers about the society, about people and their problems, about the loss of Torah as a basis for living, are we not listening posts for the Almighty? Yes, of course, He is omniscient. He knows. But even stories in the Genesis text suggest that God investigates in very human ways. Does He need to come down from heaven to know what’s happening? Of course not. But He does, and He apparently employs human beings to assist Him. For example, He shows up at Abraham’s tent because He is going to look in on Sodom. He sends angels to Rahab (yes, I know it says “spies” but go look at the implications of the word) to investigate Jericho. There are others as well. By the time of the disciples, the idea that we are the eyes and ears of God seems to be included in the concept of resident alien (notice Peter’s use of the idea in his letters). We might not be prophets as messengers, but perhaps we still fill the role as information gatherers. In fact, you might consider yourself one of God’s confidential informants.
What this means is that at least one function of prayer is reporting. You and I have the opportunity to tell God what we observe. We can bring to His attention all those trials and victories we notice. So put aside your transcendent view of the Almighty, and follow in the footsteps of Shemaiah. Take some time in prayer to tell God what you see. Be accurate. That’s what confidential informers are supposed to do. Get inside the world around you. Become a true resident alien. And report back to the Boss.
Topical Index: Shemaiah, God hears, prophet, 2 Chronicles 11:2
It’s not that God wouldn’t know something if we didn’t tell Him.
But if we didn’t, we might never know how deeply He values us
and wants to hear from us about everything we see, feel, know and
wonder about.
I’ve discovered He listens to me all the time. And how amazing it is
to know He’s there . . . taking it all in!
That was weird. I wasn’t able to make a comment, but after I opened a new tab in Chrome the site “saw” me and here I am. It seems safe to say that each of us knows one of these hearers. My best friend, who is a weeping listener, like Jeremiah. She is a powerful “intercessor”, is what we say. She prays and Yah hears. Or I feel like He listened through her, because something happens, or shifts, or … I look forward to others’ insights here. Good morning, y’all!!
Hmmm… perhaps in Messiah the proclivity for gossip may be re-directed to genuine renewal? (Skip, you consistently challenge me when I start to get comfortable with the status quo… thanks!)
Exquisite.
I have noticed that YHVH “shema”s us; He not only becomes cognizant, He does something. Knowledge, to God, is concurrent action. If “shema” is for us to say “to hear is to obey”, then for Him it must be “to hear is to respond; to act”. If we have His ear, we have the rest of Him, too.
May we all pray to go throughout our day listening with His ears, and then DOING something. It can be really powerful to share observations about reality in real time with the Author of it. Active listening transforms us, too, for it plugs us into the power of love to change; to make a different set of choices, and to return function to valleys “full of dead men’s bones”. May we all learn how!
We are not all called to be prophets or have the gift of prophecy, but we all are called to be ambassadors of Messiah.
The United States Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, is never in doubt as to her boss’s opinion and concerns, what with his incessant tweets, staff leaks and daily press briefings. Plus, when she was hired there was, no doubt, a general understanding of his political agenda and the role she would play in implementing it to the United Nations. In addition, one can assume that she can always pick up the phone and get clarity, guidance and secific instructions from Mr Trump when necessary, especially before a critical vote or in slippery negotiations. We are told by Shaul in II Cor 5:20 that we too are Ambassadors, not for a President, Dictator or Ruler of a worldly Nation-State, but for the King of Kings and His Kingdom which encompasses all the earth and the vast cosmos. We too can subscribe to His daily feeds and songs through the agency of worship and praise. The Torah contains nearly all we need to know of His agenda and how to implement it. As for receiving clarity, guidance and specific instructions we have a direct hot line to His Throne via prayer. We not only have a better boss, we are better equipped, we have a better benefits package, a larger audience, more enemies, bigger responsibilities, a greater commission, a greater hope and a better opportunity to bring peace to this suffering world than does Nikki Haley. Who needs UNESCO anyway?