Daily Divinity Questions And Answers

Witness Dingani

“Prophets often shocked their hearers rather than attract their attention by the methods which they used to deliver their messages.”
Examine this view. How far is this common among Zimbabwean prophets? (25).

COMMENT OVERVIEW

THE above question requires one to have deep knowledge concerning the methods which were used by Israel prophets to convey their messages.

They used various methods which will be mentioned in the ongoing article. Zimbabwean prophets use different methods, Zimbabwean prophets include the following:

(a) The Apple Prophet “Fordrick Fordrick ”
(b) The Spectacle Prophet “Freddy”
(c) Ezekiel Guti
(d) Major Provovo man of style “Uebert Angel”
(e) Walter Magaya
(f) Passion Java
(g) Zviratidzo ZvevaPositori sects
(h) Wutuanashe Andrew
(i) Prophetess Ruth Makandiwa
(j) Prophetess Beverly Angel-Makomichi
(k) Aaron Mhukuta “Madzibaba Wimbo”

SUGGESTED ANSWERS

Israel prophets used symbolic actions to deliver their messages. There are so many prophets who used symbolic actions, for instance Moses performed symbolic actions in front of Pharaoh as a way of convincing him. This is recorded in Exodus 7-10.(changing of the rod into a serpent). Isaiah of Jerusalem is well-known for his symbolic action which is even shocking the readers of this generation, Isaiah is recorded to have spent three years walking naked, this is recorded in Isaiah 20:3. Jeremiah is also known for performing unusual symbolic action of caring the yoke bar, this is recorded in Jeremiah 27. Hosea is well known for marrying a harlot as a way of delivering a message, even though in the society it was not allowed for men to marry women of loose morals (Exodus 24: 1-4).

The above prophets might have been delivering the message to the audience, one should note that on the onset it shocked the hearers/audience considering Moses who performed unusual symbolic actions in front of Pharoah, he was shocked this is evidenced by summoning his magicians and soothsayers and his heart was hardened. All this is recorded in Exodus 7: 10-15. Jeremiah shocked the leaders in Judah, this even shocked Hananiah the false prophet, this might be the reason why he broke the yoke bar, this is evidenced in Jeremiah 28: 10-11. Basing on the above, it is clear that most of the symbolic actions performed by prophets shocked hearers than attracting them .

The visions sometimes shocked the audience, this is true in the case of Amos who delivered his message of doom, perhaps in Gilgal and Bethel. The visions are well known by a number of Biblical readers (Amos 7). The visions of Amos might have shocked even the priest Amaziah, this is the reason why he expelled him even though some scholars believe that Amos was expelled because Amaziah believed that Amos was prophesying for living. The point is that Amaziah might have been shocked by the visions of doom which were uttered by Amos, hence meaning that prophets often shocked their hearers rather than attracting them.

HOWEVER PART

In as much as it can be said that prophets often shocked their hearers with their methods which they used to deliver their messages, it would be a loss of memory if one ignores the view that some methods attracted the hearers, for instance, songs. Israel prophets used songs to deliver their messages.

Moses used a song to deliver his message, this is recorded in Deuteronomy 32: 1.Amos also used the song “funeral dirge” to deliver his message of doom, this is recorded in Amos 5: 2. Isaiah of Jerusalem also used the song of vineyard to deliver his message to the Israelites, this is recorded in Isaiah 5: 1. Some scholars believe that on the onset songs attracted people, especially when a prophet used their own language. As such ,this indicates that sometimes the audience will be attracted by the method which will be used by the prophet.

NB: There are so many ways which attracted the audience.

ZIMBABWEAN CONTEXT

In Zimbabwean context, many prophets use methods which attract their listeners, for instance the use of stories, the son of Wimbo, Gomo submitted that the way his father delivered his message was amazing, this was even published by Bulawayo24.com (“He has always been amazing because at times he makes prophecies without informing anyone that he is sending a prophetic message. He would just pretend to be telling a story and often we would realise it was a prophecy when things he would have said begin to happen). All this indicates that methods used by Zimbabwean prophets attract the audience.

SOME OF THE ATTRACTIVE METHODS

(a) Pamphlets
(b) Radios
(c) TV stations
(d) Banners

-Witness Dingani is author, columnist, youth coach, radio host, cricketer. He is the founder of charity organisation “Dingani Charity Organisation”. In 2016 he was nominated the most influential youthful figures in Zimbabwe and was voted 8th position out of 15 people by the Pan-Zimbabwe society. In 2017, Witness Dingani co-authored the Lower 6 book entitled “Understanding Family and Religious Studies”. Questions by schools can be submitted through his mobile number +263777896159 or Email address: [email protected]. Readers can follow the Questions and Answers on Sunday News newspaper every week.