True prophets can get it wrong

By Yolandie Mostert, 19 April

 

A bit of a controversial subject…  Let’s be brave and explore.

 

We know that David had a sincere and a pure heart before God. David was contemplating to build a temple for God. His motive was pure and his intention was virtuous. I mean, how can you go wrong in planning to build a temple for the most high God?

We also know that Nathan was a true prophet of God. He was the man that had to deliver the tough message of God’s judgement on David’s fornication and murder.

 

David and Nathan were human. They made mistakes. They also heard wrong.

Though their intent was good, there was a time when they missed God’s will.

Initially…

Let’s recap on the story in 2 Samuel chapter 7.

David told Nathan that he wanted to build a temple. Read Nathan’s immediate answer to David in verse 3:

And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do everything that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” 

What a pleasing word from a true prophet! If this is not go-ahead, I don’t know what is.

 

But…. Nathan was mistaken.

 

Nathan listened to his own voice and to his feelings and gave affirmative word base thereon.

That night, the Lord spoke to Nathan and gave him the correct word which was a full contradiction to what he has already told the king. Nathan was in trouble and he had to make a choice.

His options:

• He could overlook it and just pray for David for guidance and watch how the temple building plays out.
• Or he could wait it out a bit and give the truthful word when the memory of his initial word has faded.
• He could tell himself that there was not such a big difference and reason himself out of fixing it.
• He could resolve that the first word was right and the later word was coming from the enemy that wants Nathan to second-guess himself or even steal his honour.
• He could decide that he was not worthy of being a prophet of God and change jobs (offices).

 

Or he could take the hard road and fix his mistake.

That is exactly what Nathan did. We read in verse 17 that he went to David and delivered the whole message. That message included a ‘no-answer’ to the king. A message that could’ve resulted in a death sentence if the king was not noble.

 

I don’t think for one minute that it was easy for Nathan. It must’ve been a very embarrassing experience. It is never easy to say ‘I was wrong’, especially if you are held in high esteem because of your sincerity and true messages.

Because Nathan honoured God, he made the correct choice.

 

How many modern-day prophets will be willing to go back and say “The word that I gave you was coming from flesh and not from the Spirit of God”?

 

On the other hand, David, also had a choice to make. As the receiver of the prophetic word, he could’ve just gone with the ‘yes’ and ignored the correction. It is very easy to opt for the response that suits us the best.

 

A present-day example:

Let’s say I want to host a big conference where lots of people can get saved.

I then tell this to a prophet with the hope that he will give affirmative word. He does give the ‘yes’ and tells me to do everything that is in my heart (everything I want to do).

Tomorrow, the same prophet comes back and tell me that he heard wrong. The correction is a big NO and that one day someone else will be hosting this conference. I will not see the conference, but I was part of the birthing in the spirit in order for it to materialise.

• Will I accept the word of the prophet?
• Will I shame him publicly for giving false word?
• Will I heed to God’s will?
• Will I elect to go with the first answer because that is the answer that suits me?
• Will I continue to prepare and pray for this conference with the same passion as before?

 

Questions to ourselves for pondering?

• When we give out word, is our own importance more important that the truth?
• To what extent do we go, to ensure that the word is/was pure?
• How far will we go, to correct false word?
• How quick are we to only give messages of prosperity and wealth?
• When we receive word, are we truly willing to accept God’s answer?
• Do we depend on feelings and emotions to guide our decisions?
• Do we test word or are we too happy that we’ve received a ‘yes’ or a blessing?

 

Send out your light and your truth; let them be my guide; let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the places where you live.  (Ps 43:3 CJB)