i8 77 ] PROPHECY AS A FACTOR IN HISTORY 343 



for ever, and which is God s Word to us now as it was of 

 old to Israel. 



In the view of some theologians this highest aspect 

 of the significance of prophecy entirely overshadows 

 all historical interest which may attach to the subject. 

 The inspiration of the prophets appears to them not 

 merely as the most cardinal fact which we can have before 

 us in studying their work and writings, but as a fact so 

 infinitely important that all human and historical aspects 

 of the matter are vanishing quantities in comparison. 

 The necessity for any critical enquiry into the history 

 of prophecy, and for any attempt to trace the evolution 

 of prophetical ideas, is held to be superseded, and even 

 to be rendered frivolous or profane by the paramount 

 consideration that what the prophets did and wrote they 

 did as organs of Divine Revelation. Every endeavour 

 to understand the prophets as men and to fit their work 

 into the general development of the national life of 

 Israel, with reference to the general laws of human history, 

 is supposed to involve some measure of indifference or 

 incredulity as respects the divine character of their 

 mission and equipment. 



This view is nowadays at least not often put forth in 

 express terms by writers who profess to speak as scientific 

 theologians. But it is still the view which lies at the 

 bottom of a great part of current exegesis of the prophecies, 

 including the whole of the pseudo-apocalyptic speculation 

 which is still so fashionable in many circles. And on 

 those who have too much sense for the vagaries of this 

 school the unhistorical view of prophecy has at least a 

 negative influence, leading them to pass by as altogether 

 unintelligible many parts of the prophetic Scriptures 

 which become luminous as soon as we apply to them 

 the historical method of enquiry. That is, if we take up 

 any chapter of the prophecies at random, the unhistorical 

 method begins by saying : These are words of inspira 

 tion, let us try to find a lesson for us in each of them. 



