Another way God used the prophets was to act as an intercessor.? Priest, of course were the prime intercessors, as they presented sacrifices on behalf of the people but the prophets also served in this capacity.? There are several examples of prophets interceding for the people before God.?
???? Among the early prophets, one may point to the ?man of God? sent to Judah to prophesy against the altar at Bethel.? There King Jeroboam attempted to stop the prophet, but in doing so he found his hand had withered.? ?Immediately he sent for and urged the prophet, ?Entreat now the face of the Lord God and pray for me, that my hand may be restored.? 1 Kings 13:6?? The man of God did as Jeroboam requested, thus serving as an intercessor and the king?s hand was restored. ?Elijah one day interceded on behalf of a dead son of the widow of Zarephath to the end that his life might be returned.? God heard his intercession and brought the boy back to life, much to the joy of his mother. 1 Kings 17:17-24?? In somewhat the same manner, Elisha, a few years later, interceded on behalf of the little son of a Shunammite woman.? The boy had died and his mother had come quickly to Elisha for help.? He went to the house of the mother and there interceded for the child and saw him restored to life, again much to the joy of the mother. 2 Kings 4:18-37.? By the way, these are very good examples to refute the false doctrine of the Jehovah Witnesses about their doctrine of the soul staying in the body in death!!
???? The writing prophets also presented intercession for the people at other times.? Amos, for instance, as he saw the land devoured by locust, cried to God, ?O Lord God, forgive, I beseech Thee, by whom shall Jacob arise?? for he is small.? Amos 7:2??? The text then indicates that, as a result, ?The Lord repented for this? and said to Amos, ?It shall not be.?? In other words, a devastation similar to what Amos had seen brought by the locust would not be brought by the Lord on the people as a result of the prophet?s intercession.? Probably Jeremiah gives more indications of intercessory work that do any of the other prophets.? For instance, he cries out, ?Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.? Jeremiah 14:17?? Again, he says, ?We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against Thee.? Do not abhor us; for Thy name?s sake, do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory, remember, break not Thy covenant with us.? Jeremiah 14:20-21?? At times, God even bids Jeremiah not to intercede in behalf of the people.? For instance, in Jeremiah 7:16, God says, ?Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me: for I will not hear thee.? Jeremiah 11:14 ?One of the most famous of the Old Testament prophets who interceded for Israel was Daniel.? Daniel chapters 7-12 records the intercessory praying of Daniel.? ?
???? The prophets were called by God.? Isaiah tells of his calling of God in the vision of the calling.? ?The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amoz (Isaiah 1:1); and the Book of Ezekiel, ?The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar? Ezekiel 1:1? When Isaiah presents the occasion of his call, at the time he saw God high and lifted up: ?In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.?? Later he says, ?Then said I, woe is me for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips,? and later, ?Then said I, here am I, send me? Isaiah 6:1-8? In the calling of Jeremiah ?Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying??.
