Of Oracles and Burdens.

To speak as the oracle, you must carry the burden.

According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia the Hebrew word massa carries two distinct yet related meanings.

1. In the OT: (1) massa', from a root nasa' "he lifted up." Thus literally any load is called massa' (Ex 23:5; Num 4:15,24,27 ff; 2 Kings 5:17; 8:9). Figuratively, people are a burden (Num 11:11,17; Deut 1:12; 2 Sam 15:33; 19:35). A man may be a burden to himself (Job 7:20). Iniquities are a burden (Ps 38:4). Taxes may be a burden (Hos 8:10).

2. In both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) massa' is translated "burden," as applied to certain prophetic utterances; but both the American Revised Version, margin and the Revised Version, margin have "oracle." Examples are Isa 13:1; 14:28, and often; Jer 23:33,36,38, no marginal reading; Ezek 12:10; Nah 1:1; Hab 1:1; Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1. As was natural under the circumstances, such oracles usually denounced judgment upon place or people. Hence, probably the translation "burden." But some of these prophetic utterances do not contain denunciation or threat (Zech 12). The passage in Jer, moreover, implies that the prophet used the term in the sense of "oraele," for scoffers are reproved for perverting the word and giving it the meaning "burden." Massa', therefore, means something taken up with solemnity upon the lips, whether threatening or not.

"An oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw:
Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them;
beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles.
I have commanded my holy ones;
I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath--
those who rejoice in my triumph." Isa 13:1-3 NIV

"Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel who are there.' Say to them, 'I am a sign to you.'
"As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives." Ezek. 12:10-11 NIV

"An Oracle
The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus-
for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD..." Zech. 9:1 NIV

"An Oracle
This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: 2 "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem." Zech. 12:1-2 NIV

My point in illustrating the above is simply this. Those who claim or desire to speak as the oracle of God, i.e. proclaim the will of God for a people or prophesy (speak forth) the heart of God in a situation, to a specific people or about a specific event, must first have been willing to lay down their lives, their own agendas, their own pride and take up the burden, the concern, the love that the Father has for those to whom the oracle is spoken or written. If they are not willing to die to self, cry out for grace and the salvation of those to whom the word is directed then they become guilty of beating the sheep or a hypocrisy based in a vile self-righteousness thereby bringing unnecessary ridicule upon themselves and more importantly upon the word.

Even though the truth contained in a word is not dependent on the character of the speaker, e.g. Balaam in Numbers 23:7 and the fortune teller in Acts 16:17, the validity of that same word may be discredited as a result of the lack of integrity in the one who would speak.

Therefore, those who would speak as the oracle of God, whether in be on a nationally televised broadcast, from the pulpit of a so-called “mega-church” or written in blog on the Internet, must be willing to pay the price to speak with authority.

Paul illustrated for us the manner in which Jesus came and spoke in his letter to the church at Philippi.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Phil 2:5-8 NIV

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Mark 8:34