NOTES for Deu 18:19

The attitude towards the prophets, as we see, from the point of view of the Torah is the parameter of faithfulness to God. There is nothing surprising here: because the prophet is after all God's witness; that is why to believe in the prophet means to believe in God. But on the other hand, the Torah itself indeed contains all which is necessary for the one who wishes to accomplish God's will! Why then it is here, in the Torah that is mentioned the prophetic service, mentioned as something, without which the Torah would not be complete? It would have been of course possible to say that it is about a special, charismatic part of the Torah, that itself, supposes a constant development, that the revelation does not end either with Moses, or with whoever of the later prophets.

Everything is like that, but there is in the prophetic service mentioned in the Torah another aspect concerning each. Of course, the prophetic service is not given to everyone. But each has, or at least should have his living relationships with God. And the Torah itself is not just the law; it is not a code of conduct or moral norms. The Torah is the description of the way leading to God. It could be likened to a map, which has value only if it is used as expected, paving the way that leads to the purpose. But, as a rule, to solve this task only with a map is not enough, the compass is also necessary here.

The relationships with God, the personal revelation are for man such a compass. And the Torah itself indicates the reader on this compass, by letting know that without direct revelation, the Torah is useless, it is impossible to observe it, basing only on the letter. And in order not to limit only on the letter, it is necessary to feel this breath of God, this spirit, about which spoke the prophets. Well then the Torah will come to life, turning from a set of laws to the living word of revelation.