Arrows

He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in the hollow of his hand; 

he made me like a sharpened arrow, he hid me in his quiver.

~ The Prophet Isaiah.  Chapter 49, Verse 2

A reader recently shared a prophetic writing with me and ever since, it has stuck with me like a friend.  When you’ve thirstily stumbled through a horizonless desert like I have, a fresh word picture from The Lord can be more refreshing than cupped palmfuls of icy spring water.  While the splashes and gulps are fleetingly refreshing, a desperately needed personal message from Adonai is like an intravenous flow of Lactated Ringers delivering mineral-rich hydration directly into our withering inward parts.  (The only reason I know that some types of IV fluids are called Lactated Ringers is because I grew up watching Emergency!)

In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he writes, “With regard to the spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.”  He begins with this assumption:  The church can become woefully unknowing.  He goes on to say, “Be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” 

Too often, biblical terms that are not colloquially used, like tongues or discipleship, are readily relegated to the back of the lexicon.  So it is with prophecy.  While some reformers scowl at the  thought of adding a jot or tittle to the firmly-closed canon, charismatics can’t seem to pray without the first-person salutation, “My dear children.”  All the while, the wondering world looks on with properly placed bewilderment.

Prophecy, plainly put, means to be divinely inspired to speak or write.  Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice”, which means that the ability to hear Him is an innate given.  While it is common for these utterances, or words, to be predictive of future events, it is more simply sensing the will or heartbeat of God in a matter and sharing it.  

Even though the New Testament provides that within the church a select few are reserved for the office of the Prophet, Paul invitingly admonishes;  “You can all prophesy.”  With three simple words, Paul tells us the purpose of this type of prophetic word:  “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.”

So before you boldly tell a stranger in the soda aisle, “You’ve had five husbands and the man you are living with now is not your husband”, first ask yourself — Will what I am about to say make her stronger, encouraged, or comforted?

I apologize for the extended dialectic, but I want to be very clear about why this specific prophetic writing has been so life-giving for me.

The Ready Writers

This particular prophetic word (linked below) was inspired by the 49th chapter in the Book of Isaiah where he describes those who deliver the word of the Lord as sharpened arrows.  Additionally, and almost more arresting, he explains there are necessary reasons and seasons when the arrow should not be flown but instead remain hidden within the confines of the quiver.

He is preparing His ready writers to go forth as arrows in the Spirit. He desires to fashion us as mighty weapons in His kingdom while holding us close in the secret place so that we hear His voice and release His words and His heart.

Those who have followed my recent journey as Job’s stunt double know that because of numerous faith-forging adversities, I had to close down the small business I successfully ran for 10 years, I stopped leading worship in the local prayer rooms, and I quit writing altogether.  One would think with all this newly found spare time I would have finally honed my golf game to perfection.  Unthinkably, my handicap has gone up during this quicksand trap of trials.

But I knew two things for sure when I read this prophetic piece.  One, it is true.  And two — It is for me.

The writer goes on to describe why an arrow must spend time in the quiver:

When an arrow is being formed, the shaft of the arrow is placed in the quiver. This allows time to see if the body of the arrow will remain straight, or if it will warp. Improperly formed arrows will not fly true. The process is extensive, but necessary, in order to make sure that when released by the archer, the arrow goes as directed.

I wish I could say I’ve been piously waiting upon the Lord, but the fact is:  It’s been dark and disorienting here in the archer’s quiver.  Though I feel the constant jostling, I can’t see a thing and have no idea where I’m going.  But this word gives me hope that a refinement is unfolding.  And like rolling a cue across the pool table, I’m beginning to understand that this time in the shadowed place is curing the shaft of my craft for greater effectiveness.

It’s a Battlefield Out There

We live in perilous times.  The powers of lawlessness are turning our country into a cultural demolition derby.  And while the chaos and carnage are tallying heaps of mangled lives stranded and sputtering on the sidelines of the arena, the church is busily taking signups for their exciting new Waxing and Detailing Seminar.

Arrows were powerful weapons in biblical times. Arrows were long-range weapons, hitting targets hundreds of yards away.

Why is the Church reticent to dip her arrows in the leaven of the Kingdom, take strategic aim, and fire her long-range weapons into the battlefields of good and evil?

I was a church planter for many years and know how perpetually exhausting it is to be a pastor in today’s precarious landscape of tripwires and minefields.  But it is only perpetually exhausting when we prioritize pleasing people over hearing His voice.  

We have always taught our two sons:  The most important thing in life is knowing the sound of God’s voice in the garden of your soul.  Once you have that, you have everything.

So when a lab-engineered bioweapon was maliciously released upon the planet and authorities demanded we shut down our churches — Did we blithely comply or did we pray and fast until we heard the voice of Adonai on the matter?

When international church leaders persuasively campaigned that Jesus would take the vaccine — Did we roll up our sleeves or did we quiet our souls until we heard the sound of The Lord for ourselves?

When the media machinery churned a well-choreographed narrative about someone dying at the hands of police officers — Did we reactively sink a placard in our front lawn or did we sink to our knees until we heard Our Father’s thoughts?

When June 1st arrives and you are coerced to celebrate minors who don’t know what sex they are and cheer for the half-naked men who dance for them — Will we endure the pride flag or abide in our prayer closet until we can discern the principalities behind the flag? 

When we are afraid to tell coworkers and family members who we voted for — Do we remain quiet on political issues that are plainly defined by Kingdom principles or do we wrestle with God until we have absolute certitude why you believe what we believe?  (It is interesting to note since we are discussing prophetic words:  For the last 14 years, Prophets have only heard the name of one of our presidential candidates, not both.)

When the Roe v. Wade decision was reversed and half of our friends fomented their maniacal passion to have babies killed on demand — Did we sheepishly nod hoping the conversation would shift or did we ascertain how much Elohim loves each one of His thoughtfully fashioned image bearers?

When the FBI kicked down the doors of American Citizens who broke no laws on January 6 — Did we believe deep down that they deserved it or did we cry out to the God of Justice interceding for their release?

Let The Preachers Preach, Let the Writers Write

I know many who foster frustration with their preachers because these types of topics are impermissible from many of today’s pulpits.  This glaringly obvious avoidance by today’s pulpiteers is a nascent phenomenon.  Throughout history, prophets and preachers thundered away at the corruption and destruction imposed by woefully evil political leaders and the nations were better for it.  

Yes, it is important to hear lessons about improving our quiet times and reducing our sin.  But the fact is, Christians are facing virulent immiseration in the public square merely for holding fast to commonly held Christian beliefs.  Who will fill their quivers with tools and weapons to fight the madness?

I can confidently say this:  I’ve launched arrows against all these verboten topics and paid a price for doing so.  The more pressing concern is:  What are the unpopular but prophetic arrows that must be put to flight today that will save us tomorrow?

My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Psalms 45:1

Perhaps instead of prodding our preachers to release a cork they aren’t ready to pop, we look for the anointed scribes and the ready writers who can hear His voice, discern the times, and release flaming arrows of precision into the darkness to expose the deception and imminent devastation of these days.  

And the Archer’s call may include you.

May we practice His presence until we know His voice.  May we perceive our season to know when to launch holy arrows and when to seek shalom in the quiver.  May we look for the anointed scribes of our day and spread the word far and wide.  And may we carry and dispense the leaven of the Kingdom everywhere we set our feet, speak a word, or type on keys.

. . .

You can find Dawn Hill’s prophetic piece from 2017 here: Prophetic Scribes:  You Are Arrows in the Quiver of The Lord

The reader who forwarded me this piece is also a gifted author.  Please see Denise Rowe’s work here: Metaphor Maker Press

The image used for this piece is a logo I designed after spending weeks pondering these things.