Professional at Misleading

Jeremiah 23:9-32

 Jesus talks about false teachers and prophets; “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)  And later in Matthew 24:10-12, “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”

As one who goes by His name, should we not diligently look at what God is telling us in Jeremiah about false prophets and teachers so that we know how to identify them?   As we explore verses 9-12, “Concerning the prophets:  My heart is broken within me; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the Lord and because of his holy words.  For the land is full of adulterers: because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right. “Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the Lord.”  These are words that Jeremiah has already spoken in chapters 11-20. 

What kind of men were they?   Both prophet and priest were professional at misleading the people, the false prophets wants and needs drove them with little regard for the people of God.  In sales, we would refer to them as silver tongue devils.  The prophets Jeremiah was warning us about were skilled in these areas: law morals and character, they developed a message from their evil heart and passed it off as from God, they were never called to be prophets of God, and they stole others materials and took credit for them.  (Note: as one who writes I must confess that I’m a composite of many authors and people who I’ve learned from have had few insights of my own.)

As you look into verses 13-32, you are going to see these men leading people astray even to worship false gods.  You will also see God comparing them to Sodom and Gomorrah and telling us these prophets are making up vain hopes and telling the people to do what feels right, but judgment is coming.  Verse 20 should be a wake-up call for each of us in that it also refers to our time.  “The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart.  In the latter days, you will understand it clearly.”   I also believe that many who use the title Christian have no understanding of God, and yes each of us must come to an understanding that He is all seeing and all knowing as stated in verses 23-27, “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal?”  Jeremiah is not saying God has not used ideas, but these teachers were fabricating dreams to prey on the gullible.

As followers of Christ, it is our duty to find pastors and priest and teachers who handle the word of God correctly.  Verse 29, tells us that God’s word is like fire and like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces.  Look for a man who speaks the word of God faithfully, stands with him, and submits to authority God has given him, Jeremiah was such a man. 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice