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Prophets and their calling

Connect prophetic calling with repentance, justice and mercy.

1. 1. Read and discover - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Isaiah 6:1-8

   ¹ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.

   ² Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew.

   ³ One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!”

   ⁴ The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

   ⁵ Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies!”

   ⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar.

   ⁷ He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.”

   ⁸ I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   The vision joins holiness, awareness of limits, cleansing and sending; the prophet’s response follows a received initiative.

   Reflect

   • What happens before Isaiah volunteers?

   Put it into practice

   Acknowledge a limitation and a responsibility you can accept humbly.

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2. 2. Jeremiah and his limits - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Jeremiah 1:4-10

   ⁴ Now the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

   ⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

   ⁶ Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

   ⁷ But the LORD said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.

   ⁸ Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says the LORD.

   ⁹ Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

   ¹⁰ Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Jeremiah voices fear about his youth; the calling acknowledges fragility and entrusts him with a difficult message.

   Reflect

   • How does God respond to the fears Jeremiah expresses?

   Put it into practice

   Seek companionship for a responsibility beyond your present confidence.

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3. 3. Worship and justice - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Amos 5:21-24

   ²¹ I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can’t stand your solemn assemblies.

   ²² Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals.

   ²³ Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

   ²⁴ But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Amos denounces celebrations coexisting with injustice; social conduct must correspond to worship.

   Reflect

   • Why does Amos call for justice rather than empty religious celebrations?

   Put it into practice

   Review whether a daily practice contradicts your stated values.

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4. 4. Repentance in Nineveh - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Jonah 3:5-10

   ⁵ The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least.

   ⁶ The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

   ⁷ He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;

   ⁸ but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

   ⁹ Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”

   ¹⁰ God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it.

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   Understanding the passage

   The account connects public response with turning from violence; change is not reduced to outward signs of penitence.

   Reflect

   • What conduct must change beyond religious gestures?

   Put it into practice

   Identify harmful behavior and one concrete step away from it.

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5. 5. Justice, mercy and humility - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Micah 6:8

   ⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Micah contrasts just living with multiplying offerings; relationship with God includes how others are treated.

   Reflect

   • What might justice, mercy and humility look like in daily life?

   Put it into practice

   Review a relationship in which you can act more fairly.