Links for today’s readings:
Read: Exodus 15 Listen: (4:11) Read: Matthew 26 Listen: (10:01)
Scripture Focus: Exodus 15.19-21
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”
Reflection: Prophetic Check Up
By John Tillman
The role of the prophet was to represent the words, will, and presence of God.
The first three people directly described as prophets reveal three typical prophetic messages.
The first was Abraham when he blessed Abimelek. The second was Aaron when he confronted and cursed Pharaoh. The third was Miriam when she celebrated and announced God’s victory over Pharaoh and the salvation of God’s people.
The messages a prophet delivers can include blessing, confronting, or celebrating.
A prophet may bless a ruler or an individual who demonstrates obedience and submission to God’s will.
A prophet may confront or curse a ruler or individual who demonstrates callousness and rebellion to God’s will.
A prophet may predict or publish the victories of God and celebrate the peace, mercy, blessing, and salvation God provides.
The third person called a prophet in the scriptures is a woman—Miriam. This means that all men and women have a prophetic calling. (Acts 2.15-17) Give yourself a prophetic checkup. How are you representing God in your words and actions?
How are you representing God’s words? Are you growing in the knowledge of his Word? Studying, memorizing, applying, and sharing its wisdom?
How are you representing God’s will? Are you submitting to him in obedience, repenting of sins, and sharing with others God’s best for their lives?
How are you representing God’s presence? Are you sheltering the fearful, the outcast, and the needy? Are you eating with the sinful, the abused, and the prideful? Are you loving your enemies?
Are you bringing appropriate prophetic messages for your community, culture, and position?
Are you blessing and affirming good and wise leaders who honor God with obedience and repentance?
Are you confronting the powerful who are prideful, deceptive, rebellious, and hard-hearted toward those God cares for? Do you stand near the weak, the poor, the abused, and the outcasts, protecting them from the powerful?
Are you celebrating the victories Jesus has already won, the powerful he has already thrown down through his cross and resurrection? Are you proclaiming the victories yet to come, the resurrection of all who are in Christ and the righting of every wrong and injustice?
Abraham, Aaron, and Miriam leave a prophetic legacy for every man and woman in Christ. Pick up their mantle. Represent the words, will, and presence of Jesus by blessing the obedient, confronting the rebellious, celebrating his salvation, and proclaiming his love.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Deliverance belongs to the Lord. Your blessing be upon your people! — Psalm 3.8
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: The Untied Donkey
By relinquishing our own burdens, we can praise and worship God freely. When we are untied, we can live a life of faith free from the pressure of trying to hold things up.
Read more: Eating With Enemies
Christ’s love will cover all, restore our hurts and harms, and we will feast together. Through Christ, enemies can eat together in peace.
