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A Level: Daily Divinity question and answers with Dingani Witness - pt3

06 Apr 2016 at 07:55hrs | Views
QN. Evaluate the influence of Elijah's background on his prophecy and
show how contemporary prophets are influenced by their
backgrounds.(25)

U.S.A ENGLISH DEFINE "Background"as noun (plural backgrounds)One's social heritage; what one did in the past/previously.A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.A less important feature of scenery (as opposed toforeground.)

 - This will help us in executing the following question.

ANSWERS
®Elijah was from Tishbe this cannot be disqualified as our primary source in 1 kings 17 v 1 & 2kings 1 v 8-9 says so,Many scholars like Boshoff who is sited by Bishau ,and Dr Thomas Constable in his 1 Kings notes 2016 Edition says people from Tishbe were really conservative or in other words they highly up holded the Mosaic covenant ,some scholars are of the view that this was the last sect to abandon the Mosaic Covenant.

 - Elijah was one of them ,this means that his mind was overcrowded by the Mosaic Covenant.This is even supported by the meaning of his name "Yahweh is my God".

 - We all know the principles of the Mosaic covenant ,I won't waste time in trying to explain.

 - Elijah with the Mosaic covenant in mind went on to prophesy in the northern region(Israel) were they greatly violated the Mosaic covenant and traditions.In other words,This means that Elijah probably was react in trying to force people to stop sycrenitism and paganism and follow the Mosaic covenant.

 - As a result Elijah fought for Yahwehism in 1 Kings 18 v 36-40 ,remember ,there is a thin line which separate Yahwehism and Monotheism e.g (one who fights for Yahwehism is regarded as henotheist whilst one who fights for monotheism is a monotheist) English dictionary will help us to understand this,and reading Ewbank , the sub topic Mt CARMEL CONTEST OF ELIJAH might help to boost our knowledge.

 - Elijah confronted King Ahab for injustices which he had done,maintaining social justice is one of the Mosaic laws,this is well supported by Exodus 20 v 1-14.In other words Elijah might have been influenced by the same laws this is the reason why he goes to act as the voice of the voiceless ,evidenced by 1 kings 21.

 - Elijah was overcrowded by helping heart which he adopted from Tishbeh helped the Zerapath widow (I kings 17 v 12+)

 - Elijah went to open his own school of prophets so that they will assist him in maintaining the Mosaic covenant and, (Elisha being the senior prophet in the roving bands 2kings 2v 8-9 ,this is supported by Bishau page 41&42,Chapter 6 under Incubation theory and evolutionary theory)

ZIMBABWEAN CONTEXT

©Zimbabwean authors like Kudzai Biri,Chikafu and Masotsha Moyo are of the view that Makandiwa came from Muzarabani Village were witchcraft was on its peak ,this ,is the reason why most of his message during his early days was against witchcrafts.This is supported by Christ TV which recorded Makandiwa in 2013 undated encouraging his church not to partake in evil practices like witchcraft. In other words his background influences his messages to a certain level of thinking.

©Samuel Mutendi the founder of ZCC leaved during the colonial rule this is the reason why in most of his message criticised the oppression of the blacks by the whites, this is also similar to Guti who ended up being arrested by the Smith regime,hence,one can argue that their messages might have influenced by their background.

©Johane Masowe and Marange before being involved in prophetic industry they lived with "naangas, izinyanga" and they were not happy about this ,when they received a revelation from God (prophesying), they were against whichcraft,thus,leading them to preach the gospel of repentance and to burn the charms (naangas metarials). ©It has been noted that the early White church garments founders lived during the Smith Eegime,"they experienced ill treatment from the whites".When they came into the office of prophecy in the years of 1920-1978,they encouraged their church members never to use the bible as they regarded it as a weapon which was being used by the whites to occupy our land Southern Rhodesia.This clearly indicates that the white garments church early founders might have been influenced by their backgrounds to a certain degree.

HOWEVER

WHAT IS A PROPHET
 - B .W Anderson says is someone who communicate the will of Yahweh
 - Can be a prophet influenced by something whilst is divinely inspired?

©If one try to answer the above fundamental questions ,you will understand that you will have created the however part for the question for both Zimbabwean part and Elijah's part?

CONCLUSION

 - The demands of the question you know them,show the extent.

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