Economic Motivation of Prophetic Vocation in Ancient Israel: Reflections in Nigeria
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Date
2022
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Lafia Journal of Religion & Humanities
Abstract
From the eight century BC, the phenomenon of false prophecy has become a controversial issue in Old Testament studies because; sometimes, it is very difficult to distinguish true prophecy from false. Previous studies on false prophecies have focused on its existence and consequences in ancient Israel, with little or no attention paid to the economic dimension, which is central to understanding prophetic ministry crises, in ancient Israel and the contemporary Nigerian society. This study, therefore, examined economic motivations for false prophecies in ancient Israel, with a view to establishing their reflections in the prophetic ministry in Nigerian context. The study adopted the historical and phenomenological methods. It discovered that there were false Prophets in ancient Israel and Nigerian society. Prophets in both contexts operated in groups and as such it was common to see one group making derogatory remarks about the other. This study further revealed that, some of the Prophets in ancient Israel who were part of the power structure and economically buoyant were called false Prophets by those who distant themselves from the reigning monarch. Therefore, economic hardships in a nation can make Prophets to compromise prophetic oracles on the altar of pecuniary benefits. The paper concluded that Prophets in Nigeria, like some Prophets in ancient Israel should condemn in clear terms, the unjust socio-political structure and elements that are responsible for the present economic predicament. Hence, the paper recommended that Prophets in Nigeria should focus on their calling and trust in God to meet their economic needs.