Jeremiah 23:23-40
Q.1. How did the false prophets mislead the people? How would God deal with them? From where does a true message come? – (Jer.23:25-32)
The false prophets misled the people by claiming to have visions and dreams. God declared that these came from – the deception of their own heart (Jer.23:26). Because such dreams and visions were subjective and uncheckable, the false prophets were successful in turning the nation to other gods (Jer.23:27 & 32). The Lord called on the prophets to – speak My word in truth (Jer.23:28). His Word would burn up the dross like fire, and shatter even the hardest heart (Jer.23:29 c.f. Heb.4:12-13). God declared – Behold, I am against the prophets … who steal My words from each other … who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares’ … who have prophesied false dreams (Jer.23:30-32). They copied one another’s prophecies to make them sound credible. He chided them because they had – led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; Yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit (Jer.23:32). What an indictment.
Q.2. What was God’s warning to Judah? Who was responsible for bringing confusion to the people? How would God humble them? – (Jer.23:33-40)
The true message from the Lord through Jeremiah was that He would abandon His people and bring punishment on the household of the false prophets (Jer.23:33-34). When the crisis came upon Jerusalem, a confusion from God would overwhelm them – for you will no longer remember the oracle of the Lord, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God (Jer.23:36 c.f. Jer.23:35-39). God declared that because they believed these prophets, He would remove them from the land – 39 behold, I will surely forget you and cast you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers. 40 I will put an everlasting reproach on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten (Jer.23:39-40).