The Prophet
Michael Card Lyrics


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Reluctant ride in the middle of the belly of a whale
A wheel on fire in the middle of the sky
Abandoned baby kicking on the side of the road
And a wife has died but you're denied the right to cry

Three men walk out protected from a furnace of flame
One man cries out from a miry well
See a man in the myrtles and women with the wind in their wings
Understand what these seared lips can tell

I am the prophet and I smolder and burn
I scream and cry and wonder why you never seemed to learn
To hear with your own ears with your own eyes to see
I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?
I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?

I hold out hope to everyone who hears and understands
The Word of God can echo in the voice of a man
He's the shadow of a great rock in a dry and weary land
With the names of the ones He loved carved into His hands

I am the prophet and I smolder and burn
I scream and cry and wonder why you never seemed to learn
To hear with your own ears with your own eyes to see
I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?
I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?

The sorrow in His anger, my eyes weep His tears
His life alight in me
I am the sword that cuts His people apart
I speak the Word that comforts their faithless hearts

I am the prophet and I smolder and burn
I scream and cry and wonder why you never seemed to learn
To hear with your own ears with your own eyes to see
I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?
I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?

I am the prophet and I smolder and burn
I scream and cry and wonder why you never seemed to learn
To hear with your own ears with your own eyes to see
I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?
I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?





I am the prophet

Overall Meaning

In this song, Michael Card sings about the struggles and difficulties that prophets face in delivering their messages to the people. He uses various biblical examples to illustrate his point. The reluctant ride in the belly of a whale refers to the story of Jonah who was reluctant to deliver God's message to the people of Nineveh and was swallowed by a whale as a consequence. The wheel on fire in the middle of the sky refers to the prophet Ezekiel's vision of the chariot of God. The abandoned baby kicking on the side of the road and the wife who died but was denied the right to cry may refer to various unnamed characters in the Old Testament whose stories are filled with tragedy and loss.


The three men protected from the furnace of flame are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue and were thrown into a fiery furnace but emerged unscathed. The man crying out from a miry well is likely Jeremiah who was thrown into a muddy pit for prophesying against the king's policies. The man in the myrtles and women with the wind in their wings may refer to the vision of the prophet Zechariah.


Throughout the song, Michael Card portrays the prophet as a figure who is often misunderstood and mistreated. The prophet is someone who speaks the truth even when it is difficult and unpopular, he is a voice crying out in the wilderness, a witness to the power and majesty of God. He is also someone who suffers, who feels deeply the pain and sorrow of the people he serves. Yet despite the hardships, the prophet remains faithful to his calling, holding out hope to all who would listen and understand the Word of God.


Line by Line Meaning

Reluctant ride in the middle of the belly of a whale
Being in a situation that is uncomfortable and feels like being trapped in a small space with no escape.


A wheel on fire in the middle of the sky
Something that is terrifying and out of control up in the heavens.


Abandoned baby kicking on the side of the road
Feeling helpless and alone with no one to turn to for help or comfort.


And a wife has died but you're denied the right to cry
Experiencing grief and sadness while feeling like it's not acceptable to express it.


Three men walk out protected from a furnace of flame
Surviving a difficult ordeal with divine protection and guidance.


One man cries out from a miry well
Being stuck in a dark and muddy pit with no way out.


See a man in the myrtles and women with the wind in their wings
Witnessing unusual and powerful events that are otherworldly in nature.


Understand what these seared lips can tell
Listening closely to the words of someone who has been through intense hardship and has valuable insights to share.


I am the prophet and I smolder and burn
I am someone who has a divine message to share and who is willing to endure hardship and suffering to deliver it.


I scream and cry and wonder why you never seemed to learn
Expressing frustration over the fact that people don't seem to be paying attention to the message and are not learning from it.


To hear with your own ears with your own eyes to see
Encouraging people to be attentive and active listeners and observers in order to gain wisdom and insight.


I hold out hope to everyone who hears and understands
Offering a message of hope to those who are receptive to the message and who are willing to listen.


The Word of God can echo in the voice of a man
Acknowledging that the divine message can be conveyed through the words and actions of a human being.


He's the shadow of a great rock in a dry and weary land
Describing someone who offers protection and shelter in a harsh and unforgiving environment.


With the names of the ones He loved carved into His hands
Referring to Jesus and the scars on his hands which symbolize his sacrifice and love for humanity.


The sorrow in His anger, my eyes weep His tears
Having empathy for the pain and suffering that God experiences as a result of human sin and disobedience.


His life alight in me
Feeling a profound connection to the divine and the message that has been entrusted.


I am the sword that cuts His people apart
Acknowledging that the message may be divisive and challenging, and that it may cause conflict and turmoil.


I speak the Word that comforts their faithless hearts
Offering words of comfort and reassurance to those who struggle with doubt and uncertainty.


I am the prophet, won't you listen to me?
Asking those who hear the message to pay attention and take it to heart.




Contributed by Tyler W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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