What was taught in the schools of the prophets?

What was taught in the schools of the prophets? To know this is important, not only for its own sake: but because, when we know this, we know what should be taught in the Lord's schools always. These things are in the Bible. They were written for our learning. And being in the book of Daniel, they are written especially for our instruction and admonition "upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Daniel and his three companions were "skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science." This education was acquired in the college, or school of the prophets in Jerusalem. This, therefore, certifies that wisdom, knowledge, and science were taught in those schools.

Another thing that was taught there was music, instrumental as well as vocal. This we know from the fact that the first time that we meet any of the students of such a school, they have "a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them;" and they were playing with such spirit, and with such power in the Spirit, that the man who then personally met them was drawn to God and converted. Thus all the circumstances show that this was trained, harmonious music, played by the students of this school. And this is plain evidence that music was taught in the schools of the prophets.

Another thing that was taught there was work, or "manual training" as it would be called to-day. This we know from the record of these schools in the time of Elisha: "And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood." 2 Kings 6:1-4.

Yet another thing taught there was poetry. This was an essential accompaniment of the teaching of music, and the songs of worship of which their music was composed. With all this, of course, the fundamentals of knowledge, reading and writing and numbers, were taught.

We find, then, that the teaching in the schools of the prophets embraced at least the following studies:-

1. Wisdom,
2. Knowledge,
3. Science,
4. Manual labor,
5. Music,
6. Poetry,
7. Temperance,
8. Morals,
9. Law,
10. History,
11. Reading,
12. Writing,
13. Numbers.

But the one greatest thing over all, in all, and through all, in the Lord's schools was the pervading presence of the divine Teacher, the Holy Spirit. In the schools of the prophets the Spirit of God was the one all-pervading influence, the one great prevailing power. The first time we meet one of these schools is in 1 Sam. 10:5-12, when Saul came "to the hill of God," and met "a company of prophets coming down" with instruments of music, and prophesying. "And the Spirit of God came upon him," and "God gave him another heart;" he was turned "into another man," and "he prophesied among the prophets."

These things are written in the Bible for us. They center and are emphasized in the book of Daniel specially for the last days. We are now in the last days. The instruction given, the course of study in the schools of the prophets, is instruction for the Lord's schools for all time. This is the instruction that belongs to-day in every school that makes any pretensions to being a Christian school.