the authorities. Thus the so-called “messenger formula” was regularly utilized: “Thus saith the Lord.” That is, the prophets understood that their offensive utterance cast in offensive figure was not their own idea or speech. Rather it was speech given to them by the Holy God of the covenantal tradition. In making that claim, these poets are not unlike our contemporary poets who frequently attest, “The words came to me.” Such claims of course could not be tested or verified by conventional establishment