Martin Luther King, Jr., is often called a “prophet” because, like those Old Testament figures, he endeavored to inspire change in an entire nation through moral appeal. All the prophets followed a two-pronged approach.
First, they gave a short-range view of what God requires immediately. This usually consisted of an exhortation to simple acts of faithfulness: Rebuild the temple. Purify your marriages. Destroy your idols.
Second, they also gave a long-range view to answer the people’s deepest questions: How can we believe that God loves us in the face of so much suffering? How can we believe in a just God when the world seems ruled by a sovereignty of evil? The prophets answered such questions by reminding their audience of who God is, and by painting a picture of a future kingdom of righteousness.
Martin Luther King used that same two-pronged approach. His short-range view called for non-violence. King did many things wrong (like many of the “heroes” in Hebrews 11), but one thing he did right. Against all odds, against all instincts of self-preservation, he stayed true to the short view. He did not strike back. Where others called for revenge, he called for love.
King also reminded his people of the long view, that God is in control and the coming of His righteousness will not be long.