The Sunday News
Witness Dingani
QUESTION
Compare and contrast the ways which Amos used to convey the message with that of Zimbabwean prophets. (25)
COMMENT OVERVIEW
The above question demands students to focus on the methods which were used by Amos the prophet, who prophesied during the days of Jeroboam the second (Amos 7: 10). The prophet used various ways to deliver his message. It is prudent to remember that Amos prophesied during the days of prosperity, this is according to Professor Roy, perhaps in the 8th Century.
In Zimbabwean context, the writer will focus on the following prophets:
(a) Madzibaba Wimbo
(b) W Magaya
(c) E Makandiwa
(d) The Apple prophet “Fodrick”
(e) The Spectacle prophet
(f) Uebert Angel
(g) Ezekiel Guti
The following essay seeks to compare and contrast the ways which Amos used to convey the message with that of Zimbabwean prophets.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS
Amos used the oracular formula to deliver the message to the Israelites, perhaps he wanted the Israelites to believe that indeed Amos was divinely inspired and commissioned by Yahweh. This is evidenced in Amos 2: 6 “Thus says the Lord”. In Zimbabwean context, many prophets for instance Makandiwa, Angel, Wimbo, Madungwe, Makomichi and Blessing Chiza have been recorded by the local newspapers to have claimed to be sent by God, this can be supported by the fact that they use the messenger style of speech. “Thus says the Lord,” as such, one would be left with no choice but to conclude that there are similarities between Amos and the above Zimbabwean prophets when the use of oracular formula is concerned as a way of delivering the message.
Amos used a song to deliver the message of destruction to the Israelites. Amos used a song “funeral dirge,” perhaps he wanted to give the Israelites an image of the day of the Lord, this is recorded in Amos 5: 2 “Fallen, no more to rise is you virgin Israel”.
This has been further been supported by Dr Constable who submitted that a dirge was a song which was sung at a funeral’s friend. In Zimbabwean context, the TV stations have broadcast so many local prophets singing during church services, for instance Miracle TV once broadcast Uebert Angel singing in tongues, he spent 10 minutes singing. Perhaps he was delivering the message using a song. The challenge which was faced by the audience and viewers was getting the meaning of the song.
(What should be noted is that Uebert Angel also uses the song as a way of delivering the message.) All this indicates that there are similarities between Amos and Zimbabwean prophets in delivering the message as the writer highlighted above.
NB: More points can be added.
NON-AFFIRMATIVE SIDE
In as much as there are similarities between Amos and Zimbabwean prophets on delivering the message, the writer can not ignore the view that there are minor differences. Zimbabwean prophets like Madzibaba Wimbo are believed to have once used stories as a way of delivering his message. This was even published by the online newspaper Bulawayo24.com on 25 June 2016. “He would just pretend to be telling a story and often we would realise it was a prophecy when things he would have said begin to happen,” said his son Abinashen Gomo. (Readers can follow the link <http://bulawayo24.com/news/national/93127>). It is not recorded that Amos used stories as a way of delivering the message, therefore, one will be left with no choice but to suggest that there are also differences between Amos and Zimbabwean prophets where the use of stories as a way of delivering the message is concerned.
A number of prophets nowadays in Zimbabwe use TV stations, radio stations, social networks, stickers, pamphlets and magazines to deliver their messages. (Examples can be added). It is not recorded that Amos used the above methods as a way of delivering his message, therefore, one would be left with no choice but to suggest that there are differences between Amos and Zimbabwean prophets where ways of delivering messages are concerned.
QUESTION DEMANDS
Compare and Contrast
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