Prophecy vs. the Prophetic: A Mid-Lenten Reflection
By Jesse Steven Wheeler*
It has become an unfortunate truism that so many of those who obsess over “prophecy” never truly wrestle with the words of the prophets. One might read the following text as predictive of what will happen:
“Someday, O Israel, I will gather you; I will gather the remnant who are left.”
—Micah 2:12 (NLT)
Yet, wholly ignore its context:
What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so. When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.
—Micah 2:1–2 (NLT)
Though first proclaimed millennia ago, the above words of the prophet Micah present a stunningly accurate depiction of our contemporary realities. The passage presents us with an image of those in power conspiring to use that power to defraud others of their land, homes, and inheritance. It presents us with a social order built upon graft and exploitation in which the entire political-economic system is manipulated, “rigged,” to favor those who would use their power to expropriate the property of others. We might easily call these the vulture capitalists of their day and age. Yet, it can just as easily serve as a scathing rebuke of Israeli apartheid, of the settler movement and the entire institutional-legal apparatus constructed to support it.
The prophet, meanwhile, goes on:
“Don’t say such things, their “prophets” prophecy. Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!” Should you talk that way, O house of Jacob? Will the Lord’s Spirit have patience with such behavior? If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting.
Yet to this very hour my people rise against me like an enemy! You steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you, making them as ragged as men returning from battle. You have evicted women from their pleasant homes and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.
Up! Begone! This is no longer your land and home, for you have filled it with sin and ruined it completely. Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!” That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!
—Micah 2:6–11 (NLT)
It is crucial to see how the passage highlights the existence of a false religio-prophetic establishment working to provide ideological cover for the corruption and exploitative practices of the powers that be. As Walter Brueggemann tells us,
It was, in that ancient context, difficult to construe reality outside the blueprints that had been constructed by the powerful. That construed reality, blessed by establishment religion, assured itself of an entitlement by God as God’s chosen people that could count on security and certainty with no serious threat or vulnerability. But these prophets knew that that claim was not a given grounded in God; it was a self-serving construction.
Far too often in the course of ecclesial history, our leaders and institutions have stood with the status quo and allied themselves with the power brokers of the day. Not only this, our own "court prophets" construct ideological justifications for the violence of the powerful and of the privileges accrued to them in return. Listening to the voice of the prophets, however, and recognizing how often Jesus draws from them in his life and ministry, will dispel us of any notion that God stands with the status quo. And, as we reflect upon the way of the cross this Lenten season, we recognize that it is only by divesting ourselves of our complicity in the privilege that comes with power and its abuse that we can begin to understand the cruciform way of the messiah.
For this reason, I cannot fathom the twisted logic of those religious settlers or their Christian Zionist financiers who believe that this entire enterprise, built from its origins upon colonial violence and theft, somehow represents the will of God. It is this logic which leads to what we saw during the tragic pogrom in Huwara, when the settler mob paused its violent rampage to engage in evening prayers, as the village burned behind them. I can only imagine what the biblical prophets would say in response. Even so, an entire theo-political edifice has been constructed to extract wealth from churches, synagogues, and faith-based charities across the country and channel it to this violent settler-colonial enterprise. Two recent films, “‘Till Kingdom Come” and “Israelism,” dramatically highlight such realities. Of course, I must also consider the twisted theological logic of "manifest destiny" with which my own nation set out to conquer, cleanse, and colonize North America by way of fraud and violence, defrauding its natives and those abducted to work its land of their rightful inheritance.
Ultimately, it is our responsibility as followers of Jesus, or as anyone who would seek to stand in the tradition of the biblical prophets, to speak up and out against any and all forms of violence and exploitation—as well as their ideological enablers. It was so heartening to witness rabbis with Jewish Voice for Peace engaging in civil disobedience as well as the young women and men of If Not Now lead a Jewish prayer service, as an act of protest against the visit of Smotrich and of his genocidal designs, in D.C. this past weekend. For us, as a Christian Voice for Palestine, our mission at Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) is not only to stand firmly against injustice but also actively work to deconstruct those ideological and theological justifications that prop up regimes of violence and dispossession. This, we do as we positively proclaim the authentic good news that is Christ's liberating reign. This is the way, al-Sabeel.
I close therefore with the following plea, adapted from the Book of Common Prayer:
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people of the land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these, our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Adapted from: Wheeler, Jesse Steven. Serving a Crucified King: Meditations on Faith, Politics, and the Unyielding Pursuit of God’s Reign. Resource Publications, 2021.
Take Action!
The President and Congress must save another Palestinian School, this one in Jub al-Dhib
(Rebuilding Alliance) A settler organization, Regavim, sued the State petitioning for the demolition of Jub al-Dhib School, and now the school is facing the risk of imminent demolition, despite having no opportunity to speak on their behalf before the court. The village's attorney filed an appeal requesting the opportunity for their day in court, but last week, the Israeli High Court of Justice dismissed the appeal — leaving the school with no further legal courses of action.
US Government intervention has kept this school standing in the past and congressional intervention may be the only thing that will keep the school standing. Email Congress now to save Jub al-Dhib's school from being demolished for a second time.
Get Involved!
We invite you to join us in the following events and activities:
March 16: Online
Debriefing Palestine with Jonathan Kuttab
Join us via Zoom on Thursday, March 16th at 4pm PT / 7pm ET to hear all about our Executive Director Jonathan Kuttab’s recent month-long trip to Palestine and what current events mean for the Holy Land. Ask questions, make comments, and together discuss how things are changing and how we can use this unique opportunity to advance the cause of justice, equality, and peace that is central to our mission and belief as supporters of Palestinian liberation.
Easter 2023
FOSNA’s 2023 Easter Appeal is just around the corner! The ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people is intolerable. And, those ideologies that would attempt to justify Palestinian suffering are intolerable. So, we pray for a resurrection in thinking and practice, that justice and new life might spring forth from a situation so overwhelmed by oppression and death. Consider partnering with us in our mission to liberate religion from those who misuse it to justify oppression and dispossession.
We are eternally grateful for each and everyone of our supporters, especially those who helped make our 2022 Christmas Appeal such a success. Please continue to stand alongside us in solidarity with the people of Palestine and support FOSNA's work for justice and peace.
March 18: Pittsburgh
Fasting for Peace and in Palestine: Valley View / ICP Event
This year, Lent and Ramadan overlap for two weeks. We are seeking a deeper unity among our faith communities in prayer and action and encourage others to do the same.
Our national organizer Pastor Chad Collins is working together with chair of the board at the Islamic Center of Pgh (ICP), brother Mizanoor Biswas, and former board member and friend to FOSNA brother Ahmed Arafat to get the Muslim and Christian communities together united in a time of fasting and prayer for our Palestinian sisters and brothers, as they experience religious discrimination under occupation.
As many of you know, Palestinian Christians and Muslims are given very limited access to their own holy places, for example Al Aqsa and The Church of the Holy Sepulchre / Church of the Resurrection. And as you can imagine, it is very difficult for them to fast, while living under constant threat of violence from Israel.
On Saturday, March 18th at 6:00pm, we will have a small discussion / dialogue at Valley View on the challenges Christians and Muslims face living under Israeli apartheid and we will feast and fellowship together.
March 19: Online
VFHL Film Salon: The Law and the Prophets
In Israel, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, the law is whatever Israel deems to be in the best interest of Jewish Israelis, to the detriment of Palestinians. In this, Israel violates the civil and human rights of Palestinians as a matter of standard, accepted policy. However, there are brave, determined individuals — prophets —who are trying to expose the destructive, unjust, and sometimes invisible ways in which Israel exploits and oppresses Palestinians. The Law and The Prophets explains the mechanisms of control that Israel deploys to control Palestinians. These mechanisms, some violent and some nonviolent, have been perfected through decades of civil and military rule of Palestinians both within Israel, and in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Watch the film for free at your convenience | Join the Q&A Discussion with an expert panel.
Joshua Vis: Filmmaker, writer, activist, and tour organizer
Muhaned Al Qaisy : General Coordinator - Olive Tree Campaign; Proj. Officer - Joint Advocacy Initiative
Chase Carter: Community organizer; Communications Dir. – Center for Jewish Nonviolence;
Mercy Aiken: Author, Relationship Manager – Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East
March 28: Online
The Crisis of Apartheid: Report Back from Palestine
In 2023 Israeli apartheid is intensifying. While Palestinians remain steadfast on their land, the new far right government is outright encouraging settlers to violently attack Palestinians and giving the green light to Occupation forces to carry out explicit ethnic cleansing policies. As more and more people around the world turn their attention to Palestine and demand accountability for apartheid, we will gather for a report back from two Palestinian experts on nonviolence and conflict resolution about their recent experiences on the ground.
If possible please review one of our experts, Jonathan Kuttab's recent, moving travel blog posts before joining us. If you haven’t yet read his visionary and important short book, Beyond the Two State Solution, please consider doing so. It is available for free on our site in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. If you want a print copy, we urge you to support this wonderful DC area book store. If you don’t have time to read the book, please read the Executive Summary or watch this under 5 minute video where Jonathan speaks to NVI interns about why he wrote this book at this time.
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, Jerusalem:
Weekly
Sabeel Prayer Service. Join Sabeel every Thursday (6pm Jerusalem) for online Bible Study, discussion, and prayer. Examine scripture in light of the ongoing realities confronting the Palestinian Church and the pursuit of Palestinian liberation.
Wave of Prayer. Subscribe to receive Sabeel's Wave of Prayer, enabling friends of Sabeel around the world to pray over issues of critical concern to the Holy Land on a weekly basis.
Kumi Now! (Week 11) Restrictions on Movement. The checkpoints throughout the occupied Palestinian territory control and choke the lives of Palestinians. In 2014, UNAIDS declared March 1 as Zero Discrimination Day. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, stated in 2019 that, “Laws must protect, not cause harm. All countries must carefully examine their laws and policies in order to ensure equality and protection for all people, without exception.” For Palestinians faced with the daily humiliations and delays caused by the checkpoints, we must shed light on the restrictions of movement for Palestinians within Palestine. Here’s what you need to know and what you can do so that together we can rise up.