Beeri The Cave Prophet

Isaiah 8:19-22

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

Some scholars have often ascribed this text to Beeri. Now Beeri is a little-known man mentioned only briefly Hosea 1:1. In the words of Maury and his infamous paternity show, 'you are the father.' Only in this case Beeri is the father of Hosea. Now I just love how Scripture identifies him as though we should know exactly who he is. But then I can hear some of you now 'that's great you got a prophet out of that.' Hold on for just a moment. I am getting there. See, little else is known save for the fatherhood of Beeri. Yet to people of that day, I imagine he was quite well known indeed. Even so, they should have known exactly who the minute he was mentioned. Could it be that perhaps he was a prophet as some have attributed. Regardless, his origins are more concerning still. As his name suggests, it stands for a well though how broken remains to be seen. Most likely of Hittite origins, he either moved to the land amid their wanderings or else successfully integrated. More than this the text does not say. That is why it is so important to make sure your theology agrees with what God says. If he is for you, then none can stand against you as Romans 8:31. Regardless, his story is a fascinating one filled with grace, mercy, and the redemption of God. Like Beeri and Hosea, some of you would not be here were it not for the Lord. Speaking of people being here, I find no mention made of his wife, Hosea's mother. On her Scripture remains silent. Regardless, these scholars tracked him down all the way to this text which is why we are here today.

At first glance, it says little. For it seems the people of that day had a nasty habit of giving unwanted spiritual advice without any knowledge behind it just as they do in our day. Here are mentioned the familiar spirits along with the wizards which mutter after the dead. My, they sound almost like church mice with all their antics, probably to the same effect. It seems the people had a nasty habit of consorting with familiar spirits and communicating with the dead. A spirit of divination almost possessed them if you will. Now, I do not know about you, but the divining spirit and the dark arts are nothing to be trifled with. Well might you wonder what occurred then that made them feel like giving their opinion. Now as with all Scripture, there is another way to take this. Let us look at the application of such. It is a shift in perspectives if you will. What a difference your vision makes. This is why it is so important to occupy Heaven's point of view. Without it, comes chaos, disorder, and all the bad things which follow. Herein is seen the foundation of God's people and the church. As in Hebrews 12:2, the author and finisher of our faith must be God else it be no faith at all. He is right though. When something happens seek unto God. When disaster strikes the house, seek unto God. When your loved ones pass on, seek unto God. For it is his house we are dealing with here and not of man's at all.

My, I just love how this is an expanding text almost as the cave from which it was tried. You may ask me how I know there is a cave. See the cave of the grave found here, echoed in the text. The dead still cry unto God as in Jonah 2:2-6 found when he went running from God. See how his soul went down to the grave, almost to Sheol, as the earth with its bars held him forever. An oft-asked question in Scripture is whether the dead praise him. Isaiah 38:18 keeps record of it for those of you wondering. Your usefulness to God has not expired just because you have passed. Nor is his calling on your life any less for your physical circumstances. Look with me if you will at this thing here. We serve not a dead God of Luke 22:69, for he has arisen and is seated at the Father's right hand, alive forevermore. Remember, each time how they cried unto him whenever they rebelled and got in trouble. Throughout the nation's history, he saved them time and time again from famine, sword, pestilence, and their own oppressors. It would almost have been better for them to ask for saving from themselves.

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

You can almost hear the heartbreak in these words here: 'you mean to tell me the grave's the end; that's it, there's nothing more?' Do not the law and the testimony also follow. What then does it matter if the dead rise not. Now I know Revelation 11:3-4 has an awful lot to say about what are known to some as the two witnesses. But look, here come two of their own even that of the law and the testimony. The former is not yet fulfilled and that about ready to pass away. You had better have something that speaks a better Word of Hebrews 12:24 than the blood of Abel. If that is the only testimony to be had, we are in real trouble indeed. So also, the only thing spoke cannot be of the law as mutterings so dark the people dared not approach. Hebrews 12:18-20 says these feared lest they also be destroyed.

How many know Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets in Matthew 5:17-20. Yet in doing so, he was made for us a testimony. It is not for no reason he is known as the last Adam of 1 Corinthians 15:45, our first fruits. See it now as a part of the new thing he is doing in Isaiah 43:19 that we know not. Yet in every point must it all be fulfilled before it passes away. Then will the two witnesses be fulfilled. See, there comes not a message that has not first passed the test of these two. They almost form a gateway through which all others pass. The message brought will never contradict the Word lest we be found a liar. So also, will the Lord not go against himself lest he also be found false. For it is impossible for him to deny himself as in Hebews 6:18.

Some of us have no problem with it but not him. You know how some of you do. By your very lives you deny him every day and were it possible crucify him too. Thus, whoever comes speaks "according to this word." Yes, though it be God, the law and the testimony will never go against each other. Therein is fulfillment found rather than in the doing away. Here is the condition of those having no light found in them made evident. Sometimes I wonder what Beeri had passed through to speak such a Word as this. Then for him to be found later folded up in something greater is beyond comprehension. Indeed, if he uttered such a thing, what he is doing found in such a place as this. In case you have not noticed from the name on the front, Isaiah wrote the book. Surely no one else contributed for there are no other credits. But something is going on at the opening of the text. See, Isaiah took a couple other men with him who possessed the Spirit of God to go preach to a king. In the background we see a human man in need of the Word. According to historical records, it was about the time of the rebellion which found the nation torn apart, it's leaders in open sin, and a mad queen on the loose. Their sin and rebellion resulted in roughly a hundred prophets hidden inside a cave with a famine going on. These had never bowed the knee to Ba'al, the people's idol, as in 1 Kings 18:4.

And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

How those words echoed across the intervening centuries; notice the shift as though another picks up the narrative. Here we see all the bad things which followed as his people passed through wanting much. The text tells how it came to them as though a house divided. So also, these, Beeri and his son, passed through bested and hungry, lacking much. At times I am sure they cried out to God, trusting for their next meal. Though they appeared to all as those by themselves, yet they were not. How many of you know that along with them came the Lord. So, these passed through the prophecy; hardly a word has been uttered that has not first tested them that spoke it. I can almost hear those around them now muttering of the dead and the evil spirits. Had those that passed been there, God only knows it would not have come to pass as in John 11:21. But see, that is human understand talking. Sure, the presence of a person might have kept them from want. Yet despite all this it should be seen that these men of God were not alone. We see the children with them given for a testimony. Others also were nearby in all the places that they passed. Some fretted themselves, having nothing, then turned they their eyes upward to curse God and their king they chose. See the temptation remained ever so close for Beeri and his young son Hosea to do the same. But there was no light of the people which kept them constant company.

See, when you are in the dark, nothing keeps you better than the fear of not having the light. Then again nothing saves more than the hope of the coming day. You might wonder then what sort of testimony father Beeri taught his young son. We need not wonder long. The book of Hosea tells all in sordid detail, which I will not entertain at this time; there the prophet lived his life as one having no light for no other reason than the say so of God. For his life served as the picture of Father God to his people be they ever so wayward and backslidden. So then, it matters not which way these go for God has them. Trust him to handle the situation. Yet for those who trusted him not there remained the no witness of God.

In the darkness, dimness came with trouble and anguish. For then were found the depths of the earth. To those that were faithful remains the look upwards of God. Here, he can hardly be considered a dead God by any stretch of the imagination. History has proven that. All time itself nor the ages alone can contain him of 1 Kings 8:27. Consider now the ultimate test faced on Mount Carmel by the prophets of Ba'al. 1 Kings 18:20-40 tells how they cried all day pleading for fire to come down on the altar. Yet none was forthcoming until at last Elijah stepped up to the plate. He raised his hands towards Heaven and behold the fire fell. Think of it. It is just what every man of God wants, answers and anointing all wrapped up in one. So then, though the people be dead, yet shall God "hear from Heaven," "forgive their sin," and "heal their land" as in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

So also, Ezekiel 37:1-14 tells of a curious case involving a prophet facing a valley of dry bones; it represents the people slain of the nation and foretells of their restoration. Herein is the mystery of the living for the dead made complete. How many of you know that when God is in the house, nothing will be the same ever again. What does it matter then if the dead rise not. If not, then there would hardly be Sunday morning, the empty tomb, Christ the risen, and all those following in the testimony thereof. You might want to ask some of the old folks in the care homes how they know. Ask the Holocaust survivors too how they saw his power. If not, then let me tell you simply. This life is not the end of it all; it is but the doorway to something greater. Make sure you have God by your side when you go through it. There are some doorways you go through that are one way only. There is no mountain too high or distance too great that he cannot save you from. By no means am I saying that Beeri wrote these words. Regardless, his life remains in silent testimony to the truth of all that is spoken.