Comes the Word of Yahweh in Parables
Prophecy for Today

Comes the Word of Yahweh to Benametz

Thus comes the Word of Yahweh to Benametz¹, saying, “Ben-Adam², Yahweh with you, man of courage!”

And Benametz answers, saying, “Why does Yahweh call me courageous? Does not Yahweh not how I hold my tongue that I might not speak against the leaders of my people? Does Yahweh not know that my heart is faint to stand before the rulers of the nation and call them to give account of their misleading statements—their deceitful and empty words? Do I speak against the injustice to your servants and envoys they mistreat and dismiss out of hand? How, then, does Yahweh call courageous one who helps to hide the truth in the silence of fear?”

Then the Word of Yahweh answers Benametz, saying, “Ben-Adam, I see your rage boil in you while you remain in silence. And I see the courage with which you care for your own safety and comfort and security. Yes, you remain quiet and speak not against the oppression of your fellow prophets with courage only to protect yourself from the leaders of your people. And yet I know that within you there is much greater courage and strength and resolve than you show. Ben-Adam, awaken the courage with which you answer your God and use it in my service! I place courage and strength within you-—the strength to trust Yahweh, the One who places life in your nostrils and breath in your mouth. Yahweh with you, and you shall I send to this people to announce my Word in the hearing of all!”

Then Benametz answers Yahweh, trembling as he speaks, for the fear upon his heart is great. Benametz answers Yahweh with these words, saying, “How shall I speak, for my heart melts within me and my tongue sticks in my mouth! I fear for the wife of my youth and my little ones—how will they fare as fatherless, and what shall they eat? Behold, Yahweh sends me out as to a den of lions and as to a she-bear with cub. How shall I speak with no hope of tomorrow, and how shall my voice be heard?”

Comes the Word of Yahweh, saying, “Ben-Adam, look upon the house of the prophet before you. Open your eyes and tell me what you see.”

So Benametz opens his eyes and looks upon the house of the prophet before him and weeps. Then he cries out to Yahweh, saying, “Behold, the prophet’s house is desolate and his children are no more. His widow is cast upon the street and her children are sold into slavery. So will they do to me if I speak and bear forth the Word of Yahweh—that I cannot bear!”

Answers Yahweh, saying, “Ben-Adam, you see well, o seer, but wisdom is not yours. You see the house of the prophet, but do not understood. He also thinks to protect his interests and keep full his belly. Now his belly is full of worms and his interests are no more. If you cannot speak at such a time, who will give you to eat and who will feed the worms? This people appoints leaders who look to their own interests and others they trample. If you would be filled, trust Yahweh. If you would fill worms, trust in them.”

Benametz answers Yahweh, saying, “O Lord, the heart of your servant is faint and the strength of his feet fails. Send another, for I am too weak to bear this burden!”

Comes the Word of Yahweh to Benametz, saying, “Do I not say to you, Ben-Adam, ‘Yahweh with you!’? Be of good courage, for it is Yahweh who bears you and grants you speech. Now lift your voice and go. Tell this people, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Master of the nations, “Why do you choose for yourselves leaders who come not from me? They seek to drive you as cattle, when I send you shepherds to lead you gently into pastures of green. They butcher you to feed their desires and tread upon you for their delight. Their hearts are turned to their own cares and they worry not to feed my flock. Their speech is eloquent, yet their hearts are not turned to me. Return to my shepherd that you might find rest!”’”

Then Benametz gathers up courage and goes before the people and before the appointed leaders and he speaks all these words that Yahweh gives him to speak. And behold, the people are confused. And the leaders cry out and chide Benametz, saying, “Behold, he has a demon and knows not what he says. He is deluded and thinks himself a prophet! Let us ask him to come again and entertain us with the words of his ‘prophecy’!”

So Benametz returns and calls out to Yahweh, saying, “I go as you send and speak the words that you give me to speak. And they jeer and they mock me and they do not listen to the words that I speak.”

Comes the Word of Yahweh to Benametz, saying, “Fear not, for they do not reject you, but they reject Yahweh from being King over them. I send you to them again and with the same words as before. They will not yet listen, but I will send you again and again. When they are famished at the hand of their drivers, then will they hear and take my words to heart. Only be courageous and speak. Be not silent and do not fear, for Yahweh with you.”

So out goes Benametz again as before and speaks the words of Yahweh to the people before their leaders, saying, “You appoint leaders who have no care but for their own bellies and interests. Return to the shepherds that Yahweh sets over the people, that they may care for you and feed you on the Word of Yahweh.” And some of the people listen. To these are given shepherds to lead them and to feed them and to water them. But the shepherds are few, for many are trampled and the youth are not been taught the ways of Yahweh, but the ways of the leaders of the people.

Then cries out Benametz before Yahweh, saying, “Send more shepherds, for there are none to feed the people nor to water them nor to lead them, for the young men are not taught to know the ways of Yahweh, but only the ways of the drivers of the people!”

And answers Benametz the Word of Yahweh, saying, “Where are the schools of the prophets?”

And Benametz answers, saying, “Behold, they are become schools of drivers, that the people might not know the ways of the prophets of Yahweh, but only the ways of the leaders of the people.”

Comes the Word of Yahweh, saying, “Open your eyes, o seer, for there are shepherds out in the field. Behold, they are few and the people are many. Some have come from other fields and some are young. Some are frail and weak and old, yet they know the ways of Yahweh. Call to them and say, ‘Go and seek shepherds for the flocks of Yahweh, for his shepherds are few and the flocks of this land have no one to lead them to pasture and water. The shepherds they appoint are become drivers that do not lead, but seek their own glory and comfort!’”

And Benametz issues forth the call of Yahweh, saying, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Where are my shepherds who will lead my flocks to rest and pasture? They tire of being driven and have no rest. Arise, shepherds and tend to my flocks, for they are famished.’”

And there arise shepherds out of the people, but they are few in number. And Benametz cries. And the Word of Yahweh answers him, saying, “It is too late for many of this generation, for they follow their drivers far too long. Yet there is hope for a new generation, if only these remain true and point others to serve Yahweh in faithfulness.”

Thus is the Word of Yahweh come to Benametz, the seer.

¹ Benametz: "Son of Strength"

² Ben Adam: "Son of Man"

—©Copyright 2005 Christopher B. Harbin