According to the book of Judges, the young nation of Israel started practicing prophetic anarchy, or democratic theocracy. They didn't have any kings or parliaments; instead their politics were shaped by whom they worshipped. When they worshipped God, He was their leader communicating through male or female prophets called judges; when they worshipped idols, hostile armies came and killed and oppressed them.
The last judge, Samuel, was a very prophetic man who heard the external, audible voice of the Lord already as a kid. When he had finished his judging, he appointed both of his sons to a collective leadership over Israel, but unfortunately they were corrupt and perverted justice (1 Sam 8:1-5). The elders of Israel then demanded a king, “such as all the other nations have”, and Samuel was shocked – did they know what they were asking for? He prayed to the Lord who told him:
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Hezekiah had Isaiah, Jeroboam II had Hosea and Amos, Josiah had Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar had Daniel, Zerubabbel had Haggai, and Herod had John the Baptist. But it was not a symbiotic relationship – like the bee and flower that need each other to survive – since the kings weren’t supposed to be there from the first place.
The prophets challenged the priests, as well, and accused them of empty worship without genuine love for God and people, or even for idolatry and syncretism between Judaism and pagan religions. As kings and criminals terrorized the country, it was rarely the priests that protested, but the Lord had to trust in prophets. While priests were born into their position (they were simply descendants of Aaron), prophets popped up in the deserts or marketplaces spontaneously as the Lord called them. While the priests would simply administrate sacrifices, the prophets would proclaim the will and word of God.
The Prophetic