Economic Motivation of Prophetic Vocation in Ancient Israel: Reflections in Nigeria
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lafia Journal of Religion and Humanities Vol.1 & 2, June / July, 2022. A Publication of Christian Religious Studies, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State
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
dissociated 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 predicaments. Hence, the paper
recommended that Prophets in Nigeria should focus on their calling and trust in God to
meet their economic needs.