December 14 Daily Discovery - Read Ezra Chapter 6

Prospering Through Preaching

And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

~ Ezra 6:14 

Prophesying was preaching.

We tend to always think of "foretelling the future" when we hear the word "prophesy".  Of course, when we read the Old Testament prophets we often read such things, but first and foremost a prophet was a preacher.

For example, in the Hebrew understanding of a prophet, they would be thinking of a prophet like Isaiah.  

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Isa. 58:1

However, Daniel who spoke so wonderfully of future events was considered by the larger body of Hebrew scholars to be a teacher, not a prophet.  Why?  Because he did not preach either to encourage or to rebuke God's people about their sins.

Sometimes, the prophets charge was to provide encouragement or comfort rather than rebuke.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isa. 40:1-3

Haggai and Zechariah were prophets, therefore they were preachers and both of them were used by God to instruct and motivate God's people to complete the building of His house.

How Have You Profited from Preaching?

God has chosen to use the "foolishness of preaching" to save those that believe.  (1 Cor. 1:21)

If you are saved, it is most likely because you have heard the good news of Jesus Christ preached.

I Cor. 14:3 says, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."

Put yourself under preaching regularly and listen.  You will be built up, encouraged, sometimes corrected and often comforted.

We all need these things, and God in His wisdom has provided for us preachers to provide these things for us.

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Continue Your Search

Do you see any: Commands to Obey, Warnings to Heed, Promises to Claim, Examples to Follow, Vices to Avoid, Praises to Emulate, Prayers to Use, Principles by which to Live, Questions to Ask or Actions to Take?

See: Berean Fellowship Bible Study Method