A Book Review of R.B.Y Scott’s Relevance of the Prophets
I. Introduction
Dr. Robert Scott’s Relevance of the Prophets written in 1944 is a work scholarly exploring the tradition and literature of the biblical prophets. It is an ardent and critical study of who and what prophets really are. He asks the question what makes prophets as prophets as he examines their role in biblical society, their humanity, the circumstances of their lives, and what really constitutes the prophetic tradition. He does this by first and foremost reading and interpreting the Old Testament Bible and understanding the prophets in their historical contexts.
Dr. Robert Scott is known for his advocacy of the social gospel as some of his writings would include Towards the Christian Revolution (1936), The Way of Wisdom, (1971), Treasures from Judaean Caves (1955) among others. He is a Canadian who taught as the Danforth Professor of Religion at Princeton University as he got his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. He was also an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada (The Canadian Encyclopedia).
II. The Message of the Book
What Prophets are and what they are not
Dr. Scott uses his incisive analytical thinking based on in depth historical, biblical, and theological research to provide us with a sharp definition of what real prophets really are and how they are distinguished from diviners, seers, priests, those speaking in tongues, false prophets, and even the miracle workers.
First he distinguishes true prophets from diviners and soothsayers and I quote:
“The Relevance of the prophets…must lie in some other realm than that of soothsaying or divination which the prophets themselves so sternly denounced. “He has forsaken his people, the House of Jacob,” says Isaiah, “because they are filled with diviners from the East and practice soothsaying like the Philistines.”[i]”
Dr. Scott is very keen in saying that prophets although prophets do make predictions on the future these are not unalterable and fatalistic occurrences but can be changed if we repent. Prophecy is very different from prediction because in prophecy there is a warning and a hope and the outcome depends on how people will respond to the prophecy positively or negatively. In the case of Jonah being devoured by a whale and prophesying in Nineveh, the people changed their ways and were thus saved. Although there is definitely a predictive element in prophecy, what is supposed to happen is a consequence of our sinfulness and not a simple fatalistic statement of doom.
Dr. Scott’s main distinction is that a prophet means “one who speaks in behalf of someone else. In this case, for God’s.[ii] Dr. Scott further distinguishes prophecy from Apocalyptic messages in the sense the true prophecy is delivered in the concrete, compelling and has its relevance in the present moment where Apocalyptic messages are laced in mythology, symbolism, and surreal representation of another reality beyond the senses[iii].
Unlike soothsayers, diviners and false prophets who usually make a living out of their craft, prophets only come and speak when there are critical times when Yahweh is really pressed to deliver a message to his people[iv]. These times are usually characterized by poor social conditions, sinfulness, and public issues that represent a major spiritual crisis being experienced by the Chosen People. Dr. Scott further distinguishes the prophets from priests and sages:
“The priest ministered in terms of the eternal and changeless to that in man’s life which was constant or recurrent. The wise man distilled in his teaching the essence of common and long experience.[v]”
Dr. Scott was also able to elaborate a distinction between different kinds of prophets. Although prophets sometimes go on an ecstatic state and speak in tongues, solid prophecy is spoken in words that can be understood and has immediate impact on the times. He quotes St. Paul saying “It is better to speak 5 words with understanding than ten thousand words in a tongue.” 1 Cor 14:19. As differentiated from the cultic prophets in the temple, I quote Dr. Scott,
“What they wanted and expect from a prophet in the temple was reassurance just as Ahab wanted prophetic support from his 400 court prophets (1 Kings 22: 1-28) then, too, a lone voice has been raised to set Yahweh will to work against the wishes and vain hopes of men.[vi]”
Thus a prophet is someone who speaks in the name of God; “Express in moral certainty what God was about to do….They themselves were media of divine self disclosure…Preachers but not like scribes who got it from tradition…Mystics but also men of action…Moralists as well as poets…Social radicals but were religious conservatives…In very truth they were the servants and envoys of the living God, instruments of his creative purpose in the realm of spirit.”[vii]
The Prophets and the Social Order
A major theme of prophecy is justice. This pertains to how their society must always take care of the poor, the widowed, the landless, and those who have less in life. Beginning as a pastoralist society, prophets tried to recapture the justice of those times where “the economic wealth of the community was actually community wealth…there were no rich and poor in the clan except that the whole clan was rich or poor.”[viii] As the Chosen People become agrarian and practiced monarchy together with the rise of cities, there also came to be massive social inequalities alongside cultural degradation and Baal worship. It was also during these times of great iniquity that Yahweh sent many of his messengers, the prophets. Thus prophets are usually social critics who are not afraid to confront the status quo or the powers that be. This is the reason why great prophets are usually at odds with society as they are “a voice in the wilderness.” Dr. Scott referred to the prophets as “… insurgent prophets had something that could not be bought. They were a lonely succession of incorruptible men, often regarded by their contemporaries as heretics and traitors.[ix]” At the same time, prophets are also the makers of History because they are the messengers of the God of History. Their impact can literally change history as demonstrated Moses, Deborah, and Gideon. Prophets are also ethicists who say that “Obedience to god is greater than cultic sacrifices.” Sam 15:22. We are reminded of Nathan confronting King David of his sin. Thus prophet defy society because their words at done at God’s bidding rather than by the influence of society. Yet Dr. Scott believes that in the end, “The final self revelation of God will not be a bursting in of sheer supernatural forces unrelated morally to man’s actual life.[x]”
What Distinguishes the False Prophets from the True Prophets?
Dr. Scott points out some signs. A prophets speaks independently of his personal volition but is compelled by God’s Will. The prophecy is consistent as well as reasonable and has moral weight and immediate impact and relevance. Although sometimes there are miraculous signs to attest true prophecy, what is important in the content and meaning of the prophecy[xi].
The content of the prophecy is characterized by the personal relationship of the prophet to Yahweh, assuring the Chosen People of their heritage and Yahweh’s promise, revealing God’s will in time, reminding the people of the covenant, warning the people of their sin and the corresponding judgement, but never losing hope on the salvation that God has promised. Thus a prophet is God’s instrument in human history to reveal his purposive action[xii].
False prophets can also be distinguished from true prophets because of their power to see beyond appearances, burnt offerings, hypocrisy and preach essential religion, unwavering justice, and criticism of the social and spiritual situation of the people[xiii]. Micah spoke of Yahweh hating burnt offering and ritual sacrifices and exhorts the people to do justice love mercy and walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:6-8)
Personal Reflection
Dr. Scott’s scholarly and eloquent rendition is spirit-filled and inspiring and brings forth the timeless message of God that implies a total and integrative change, social, economic, political, cultural as well as individual, collective and spiritual change. It is amazing that his message even now falls on deaf ears and is like the prophets of old- a voice in the wilderness. For today, dominant culture would have nothing to say about the prophets of old and even the modern prophets who speak to us of God’s message in our times now. For normal Christians the age of prophets has already passed and has no relevance today. We cannot even sometimes conceive that God speaks to us now even to this day through his modern day messengers but we are now too callous and deft to even hear God’s message. Yes even now we kill the messengers of God just like Joan of Arc who was declared heretic and burned to the stake, Thomas Muntzer killed in battle, Luther and Giordano Bruno excommunicated, and now Martin Luther King and John Lennon assassinated. These people have a message and way of life that reverberate the lives of the prophets of old. My only comment with Dr. Scott is that he was not able to link his analysis of prophets to our modern times implying an assumption that God no longer uses modern prophets and messengers in our critical times.
III. Conclusion
Prophets are messengers God especially sends in critical times in biblical traditions. Their
message, being that of God, has power, impact, timeliness and relevance at the time of their delivery. Prophets are God’s visible signs that He is part of humanity’s continuing journey and struggle towards a future that is good. Prophets are God’s mighty hand and intervention in human history as He continues to walk with his people despite our disobedience and sin.
[i] Scott p. 2. Is. 2:6
[ii] Scott p. 2
[iii] Scott p. 5
[iv] Scott p. 13
[v] Scott p. 13
[vi] Scott p. 50-51
[vii] Scott p. 41
[viii] Scott p. 23
[ix] Scott p. 54
[x] Scott p. 168
[xi] Scott p. 106
[xii] Scott p. 159
[xiii] Scott p. 217
Bibliography
Scott, Robert. Relevance of the Prophets. New York: Macmillan, 1944.
The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Robert Balgarnie Young Scott.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. 14 August 2010 <http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0007230>.
