By Andrew Williams
Series: The Year of the Prophet- Month 1: The Anatomy of a Prophet
Week 2: Distinction and Definition
Anchor Scripture: “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.” — Isaiah 50:4 (NKJV)
The Teaching
One of the most vital secrets of the Office of the Prophet is found in the rhythm of the “Morning Awakening.” In Isaiah 50, we see a prophetic glimpse into the lifestyle of the Servant of the Lord. The prophet does not operate on a weekly “recharge”; they operate on a daily interruption.
The Hebrew word for “awaken” in this passage is ʿûr, which means to rouse, to stir up, or to incite to activity. It is the same word used to describe an eagle stirring up its nest to rouse its young. The Office of the Prophet requires a daily “rousing” of the spiritual senses. Notice that it is God who initiates the awakening. Before the prophet speaks to the weary, God speaks to the prophet.
The text says He awakens the ear to hear as the “learned.” The word “learned” here (limmud) literally means a disciple or a student. This tells us that the Prophet’s authority to speak actually comes from their humility to listen. You cannot have the “tongue of the learned” (knowing what to say) if you do not first have the “ear of the learned” (knowing how to listen). The daily awakening is the classroom where the Prophet is briefed on the day’s assignments and given the “word in season” that will sustain the weary.
Prophetic Insight
A prophet without a daily rhythm of listening is a dangerous messenger. Without the morning-by-morning awakening, the prophet begins to speak from memory, from emotion, or from yesterday’s revelation. But the needs of the “weary” change every day. Yesterday’s word may not be the “word in season” for today’s crisis. If you are called to this office, God is inviting you into a level of intimacy where He is your primary Alarm Clock. He wants to wake your spirit before the world wakes your mind, ensuring that the first voice you hear is His.
The Activation
For the next seven days, commit to a “Prophetic Ear-Awakening” window. Set your alarm 15–30 minutes earlier than usual, but before you check your phone or start your day, sit in silence. Say, “Lord, I am Your student. Awaken my ear to hear as the learned.” Keep a journal nearby and write down the very first spiritual impression or scripture that “stirs” in your heart during this quiet time.
Daily Prayer: Lord God, I thank You that You are a Master who desires to teach Your servants. I repent for the times I have tried to speak for You without first listening to You. I ask that You would awaken me morning by morning. Stir my spirit, rouse my ears, and grant me the discipline of a student. Give me the tongue of the learned so that I may always have a word in season for the weary. Amen.
