How to Identify False Prophets. (Deuteronomy 18: 9-22)

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Welcome

Welcome to another episode of "The Bible Project daily Podcast"., where we explore biblical principles applied to contemporary life. In today's episode, we dive into Deuteronomy 18:9-22 to understand the kind of prophets we should pay attention to and why it's crucial to distinguish between true and false prophecy. We'll uncover the modern-day equivalents of ancient practices and learn how to navigate the spiritual landscape with biblical discernment.

Episode Notes: The Sort of Prophets You Need to Pay Attention to.

Scripture Reference:

• Deuteronomy 18:9-22

Key Points:

• Prohibited Practices:
  • Modern parallels to ancient prohibitions include horoscopes, numerology, psychic readings, and other forms of divination.
  • The Bible clearly forbids practices such as witchcraft, soothsaying, interpreting omens, sorcery, mediums, spiritualists, and consulting the dead.
• Biblical Warning:
  • These practices are considered detestable to the Lord.
  • The Israelites were instructed to avoid these as they entered the Promised Land to remain distinct from the Canaanites.
• Listening to True Prophets:
  • God promised to raise a prophet like Moses from among the Israelites.
  • The role of the prophet was to serve as an intermediary between God and the people, delivering God's messages.
• The Prophet Like Moses:
  • Deuteronomy 18 introduces the concept of a prophet and the office of prophets.
  • This passage also points to a future, ultimate prophet, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Modern Examples:

• Witchcraft: Manifestation journals, vision boards, manipulative religious practices.
• Soothsaying: Astrology apps, horoscopes.
• Interpreting Omens: Numerology, "angel numbers."
• Sorcery: Love elixirs, money spells.
• Mediums: TV personalities claiming to communicate with the dead.
• Spiritualists: Energy readings, aura cleansing, the Spiritualist Church.
• Consulting with the Dead: Ghost hunting shows, seances.

Key Takeaway: Understanding the distinctions between true and false prophets is vital for maintaining a biblically grounded faith. By adhering to biblical instructions, we can navigate the spiritual landscape with discernment and avoid practices that lead us away from God’s truth.

Application:

• Reflect on modern practices that might align with the forbidden practices outlined in Deuteronomy 18.
• Seek to understand and follow true prophetic guidance rooted in Scripture.

Thank you for joining me remember to stay rooted in the Word and discern the truth in all aspects of life.

Transcript

The Sort of Prophets You Need to Pay Attention To. (Deuteronomy 18:9-22)

Full Transcript. 

The world is full of prophets. You'll notice this especially in December when people start making predictions about the upcoming year. 

But some modern prophets are active year-round, predicting events like political elections or prophesying stock market trends. 

When it comes to politics, these prophets are called pundits, and in the stock market, they are called investment gurus. 

Prophets abound in every area of life, so it’s no surprise that we also find people who say they are spiritual prophets.

The bible has something to say about these spiritual prophets, specifically about the kind of prophets we should and those we shouldn’t listen to, and why we can rely on the correct type of prophet rather than any other forms of world prediction. 

Thankfully he Bible also tells us how we can distinguish between worldly type of false prophets and properly understood biblical prophecy.

Today, we will look at the kind of prophet you should pay attention to. Moses lays this out in Deuteronomy 18. 

Welcome to TBPDP.

Turn with me to Deuteronomy 18, where we will examine what Moses has to say about listening to people concerning the future. We will start reading from verse 9:

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

(Deuteronomy 18: 9-11)

Let me pause right there. 

We haven’t got to the biblical prophets yet; we'll get to them later in the passage. Because the first part of this passage sets the stall out by telling us the type of predictors of the future it prohibits us from listening to, listing several types of practices.

While the precise distinctions between some of these terms aren’t certain, and there is some overlap, we are given a clear understanding of what to avoid .

The Israelites were about to enter Palestine, a land where pagans used various means to predict the future or determine their actions.

These methods included observing the patterns of birds in flight, examining the organs of sacrificed animals, or interpreting the relationship between heavenly bodies, as well as some really despicable actions. 

They had various ways of determining the future and their actions and this is what these verses address.

The first prohibition is against making a son or daughter pass through the fire, refers to child sacrifice. Some suggest that among the Canaanites child sacrifice was used to predict the future. Regardless, it’s clear that child sacrifice was widespread and it is forbidden. Let’s look at the other practices briefly:

·         Witchcraft: Is a general term encompassing many of the practices listed.

·         Soothsaying: Practicing spiritualism, magic, or the practice of fortune-telling.

·         Interpreting omens: Observing signs to predict the future, such as the movement of birds or signs in fire or weather conditions.

·         Sorcery: Casting spells to bring about outcome that manipulate other people or engaging in the occult.

·         Mediums: Individuals who invoke the dead or conduct seances.

·         Spiritualists: Those who claim to have a familiar spirit and pretend to know about the unseen world.

·         Calling on the dead: Seeking information from the dead, similar to seances.

Here are modern examples of each practice that might not be immediately recognizable as occult practices:

·         Witchcraft: Modern witchcraft can manifest in what are portrayed as seemingly harmless practices like the use of "manifestation journals" or "vision boards" where people write down or visualize their desires, believing they can fufll them through spiritual or mystical means. Even religion practiced in a way that puts God in our debt by believing if we do, things, even good things, like praying at certain time or in certain ways, or follow a liturgy proscriptively thinking that will bring about a certain outcome can become a form of witchcraft.

·         Soothsaying: Contemporary soothsaying can be seen in astrology apps or horoscopes, anything which claims to predict future events or personal traits based on the positions of celestial bodies, shapes of our heads, fingernails etc.

·         Interpreting Omens: A modern example is the widespread practice of numerology of it Christianised version "angel numbers," where people believe that seeing specific sequences of numbers (like 111 or 444) repeatedly is a sign from the universe or even angels about their future.

·         Sorcery: Modern sorcery might include the use of "love elixir’s" or "money spells" found online or in self-help books that promise to influence outcomes through specific rituals or incantations. (Paula Parademia – Backpool FC)

·         Mediums: TV shows and social media personalities who claim to communicate with deceased loved ones and deliver messages from them to the living are just modern-day mediums. 

·         Spiritualists: Individuals who offer "energy readings" or "aura cleansing" services, claiming to interact with spiritual energies or entities to provide insight into a person's life or health. It is even the basis of a so called ‘Christian’, denomination called, ‘The Spiritualist Church’ which portrays Jesus as nothing more than a sorcerer.

·         Consulting with the Dead: Participating in Ghost hunting like see in the popular genre of "ghost hunting" shows or events where people attempt to communicate with spirits using various tools and techniques.

These modern examples often appear benign or even entertaining, but they align perfectly with the traditional definitions of occult practices described here in Deuteronomy.

These prohibitions are as relevant today as they were three and a half thousand years ago. People still consult horoscopes, attend seances, and seek to communicate with deceased loved ones. 

The biblical prohibition is clear: don't get involved in any of these practices.

Verse 12-13 provides the reason:

Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out 

those nations before you. “You must remain blameless before the Lord your God.”

(Deuteronomy 18: 12-13)

These practices are detestable to the Lord, and the Israelites were to avoid them completely.

One reason the Lord used the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites was because of these abominable practices. As they entered the land, the Israelites were to be distinct and different, avoiding the detestable practices of the Canaanites. This passage emphasizes the importance of following God's guidance and relying on true prophets rather than seeking other forms of prediction.

The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.

(Deuteronomy 18: 14)

These prohibitions are still relevant today. In 2017, an article I read on-line in preparation for a message I was giving then said that psychic services industry is worth $2 billion a year in the U.S. 

This enormous industry is still present  everywhere, in our own town, villages or neighbourhoods; you can find fortune-telling services usually within walking distance.

If I were to apply this passage to today, It advises avoiding all these types of practices, card reading, horoscopes, fortune-telling, and seances. 

After outlining what not to do, the Scripture often provides guidance on what to do instead. 

Following the prohibitions, Deuteronomy 18 now tells us to listen to a prophet. Let's read verses 15-16:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”

(Deuteronomy 18: 15-16)

This passage introduces the concept of a prophet. While Abraham is called a prophet in Genesis 20, this is the first mention of the office of a prophet.

At Sinai, the people were afraid and asked for someone to stand between them and God and Moses became that intermediary. 

Now, God says through Moses that the Lord will raise up a prophet like him.

Is Moses predicting a single prophet or the office of prophets? Some argue that the phrase "a prophet like me" suggests an individual prophet, while others point out that the rest of the passage implies the ongoing office of prophets. 

I suggest that both interpretations are correct and apply. This passage introduces the idea of more than one prophet, but it also signifies a particular prophet.

To explore this further, let's turn to John 1:19-25: Which interestingly this prophet is referenced.

Interestingly in my translation it titled: John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’  Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

(I John 19-25)

Next, let's look at Acts 3:21-26, where Peter is preaching and he again references this, “prophet”.

Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

(Acts 3: 21-26)

Peter directly references Deuteronomy 18, identifying Jesus as the fulfilment of the prophecy about the singular prophet. This reinforces that while the passage may introduce the office of prophets, it also clearly points to Jesus as the ultimate prophet whos will come and all the people must listen to.

As Christian believers we are told we must avoid occult ways of trying to foretell the future such practices that are an abomination to God. Instead we should seek guidance through the prophets, ultimately listening to Jesus, who speaks the living word of God to us.

Peter, in Acts 3:22, clearly quotes Deuteronomy 18 and applies it to Jesus, affirming that Deuteronomy 18 refers to the Lord. Acts 7:37 also supports this connection.

Back to the OT text.

Verse 17 and 18 of Deuteronomy chapter 18 reads:

"And the Lord said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.'" I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.

(Deuteronomy 18: 17-18)

This passage harks back to the Israelites' request at Sinai for an intermediary between them and God. God approved this request and promised to raise up a prophet who would speak His words.

This prophet would not deliver his own message but God's words, making the people responsible for obeying what he said. This would be fulfilled through the catalogue of Old Testament prophets we know about but ultimately and completely through Jesus in the NT.

Deuteronomy's significance in the New Testament is substantial. Nearly all its chapters are cited at least once, with Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and 18:15-19 being particularly pivotal.

Deuteronomy 6 emphasizes the oneness of God and the command to love Him wholly, which is central to both Jewish and Christian teachings.

Also Deuteronomy 18's reference to the prophet as seen here is extensively cited in the New Testament, especially in the Gospel of John and Acts, to affirm Jesus as the fulfilment of this prophecy.

An interesting observation is that Deuteronomy 18:15-19 is cited 42 times in the New Testament, with 24 of those citations in the Gospel of John. This underscores the passage's importance in identifying Jesus as the promised prophet.

The contrast between the dark magic of the Canaanite diviners and the true prophets of Israel and Jesus is stark. 

Unlike the necromancers who relied on occult practices, the Israelite prophets spoke the words of God, making it clear and obligatory for the people to obey them. 

However the ultimate fulfilment of the prophet like Moses is found in Jesus Christ, who, like Moses, serves as a mediator between God and His people.

So, in today’s passage, we've seen two key points:

1.     The prohibition against engaging in occult practices and listening to false prophets.

2.     The instruction to listen to the true prophet, who speaks God's words.

However, merely advising people to listen to a prophet isn't sufficient, given that many claim to be prophets. The challenge lies in discerning which prophet truly speaks God's words.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 now provides this crucial clarification for us:

But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

(Deuteronomy 18: 20-22)

This passage sets a clear test for prophets: Firstly their predictions must come true. If a prophet's prophecy fails, they are not speaking God's word. This criterion helps the Israelites—and us still today—discern true prophets from false ones.

Whilst Deuteronomy 18 emphasizes the need to avoid occult practices and listen to true prophets, it also provides a method for identifying genuine prophets: their prophecies must be fulfilled.

In Deuteronomy 18, we find two critical tests for discerning true prophets. 

First, their prophetic messages must align with God's word; as the text states, the prophet will speak God's words. 

Second, the predictions made by these prophets must come to pass. If they don’t, that prophet is considered false.

With the completion of the writings of Moses, and the other OT prophets, with the New Testament, we now have God's Word as a standard against which to measure prophetic claims.

True prophets will speak in accordance with Scripture, and their predictions will be fulfilled. 

A key point of wisdom arises here: the first is to know what is true—this is highlighted in Deuteronomy 18:15-16—and the second is to discern what is false—addressed in verses 20-22. 

Thus, this passage emphasizes the necessity of testing these claims against established Scripture.

To illustrate the seriousness of this matter, we can examine historical figures like Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter-day Saints movement (Mormons). Smith made predictions such as the return of Christ in 1891, which did not materialize.

According to Deuteronomy 18, even a single false prophecy disqualifies someone from being a prophet.

Another example is the Jehovah's Witnesses, who have made numerous predictions regarding the return of Christ, including 1914, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1951, 1975, 1986, and 2000. Their current prediction is that the world will end in 2033. After so many failed prophecies, it is evident that they are false prophets.

The gravity of listening to a false prophet cannot be overstated. 

Unlike predicting a political outcome or the weather—where the worst-case scenario may be financial loss or just disappointment—believing a false prophet about spiritual matters can lead to severe spiritual consequences. 

It can result in missing the truth about eternal life or what it means to live a godly life, leading individuals into a life of darkness and loss.

In conclusion, the message of Deuteronomy 18 remains relevant today.

It calls us to discern true from false prophets diligently. The true prophet speaks the word of God and fulfils their prophecies. 

It is crucial to adhere to the teachings of those who genuinely deliver God’s word, as it leads to life, while ignoring or following falsehoods will lead to spiritual ruin. 

We must heed the call today to listen to the true prophet, who offers the words of life, and reject the "kisses of death" that come from false prophets.