By Andrew Williams
Series: The Year of the Prophet- Month 1: The Anatomy of a Prophet
Week 3: The Prophet’s Relationship with God
Anchor Scripture: “For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?” — Jeremiah 23:18 (NKJV)
The Teaching
As we enter our third week, we shift our focus to the Prophet’s primary environment: Relationship with God. The prophet’s primary identity is found in their proximity to the Father. To understand the Prophet, you must understand where they “stand.” In Jeremiah 23, God rebukes false prophets, and His primary evidence against them is not that their predictions were wrong, but that they had not “stood in His counsel.”
The Hebrew word for “counsel” used here is Sod. It refers to a couch, a cushion, or a circle of familiar friends sitting together in a secret or intimate assembly. In a royal context, it refers to the King’s inner cabinet or “divine council.” The Prophet is someone who has been invited past the outer courts of religion and into the King’s private chambers where the “Cabinet Meetings of Heaven” take place.
Standing in the Sod means the Prophet does not just receive a “message” via a spiritual telegram; they are witnesses to the “meeting.” They perceive the divine logic, the holy emotions, and the specific timing behind God’s decisions. This is why the Prophet’s word carries such weight—it is seasoned with the atmosphere of the room where the decision was made. You aren’t just reporting news; you are relaying the heartbeat of the Council.
Prophetic Insight
The “Council of the Lord” is not a place for the gifted; it is a place for the intimate. You cannot “study” your way into the Sod; you must be “invited” through your proximity to the King. When you stand in the Council, your “marking” of the Word becomes precise. You begin to hear not just what God is saying, but why He is saying it. This prevents the Prophet from becoming a legalistic judge and allows them to become a compassionate advocate. The secret of the Lord is found in the seated place of friendship.
The Activation
Today, in your time of prayer, don’t just talk to God; ask the Holy Spirit to allow you to stand with God. Close your eyes and perceive yourself standing in the Council of the Lord. Be still and “mark” what you hear. Is there a specific theme or a specific “weight” in the atmosphere of Heaven today regarding your life or your community? Write down what you “mark” in the Council.
Daily Prayer: Lord God, I am awestruck that You would invite a mortal into Your divine Council. I repent for any time I have tried to speak for You without first standing with You. Pull me into the ‘Sod’—the secret place of Your familiar friends. Teach me to mark Your words and perceive Your heart. I don’t want to speak from the porch; I want to speak from the Chamber. Amen.
