Jeremiah Chapter 23

I find this chapter absolutely amazing.  I am constantly drawn back to it.   We find alot of prophecies for our day tucked in with the Prophets of old.  Jeremiah was called by God to warn Judah of it’s wickedness.  But tucked inside his prophetic words to Israel is this chapter that when read snaps out at you like a warning light from a police car.

The Warning

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!  declares the Lord.  Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people:  Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done, declares the Lord. “

The Promise

“I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.  I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing, declares the Lord.”

“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just an right in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.  This is the name by which he will be called:  The Lord Our Righteousness.”

I think we can agree that this is a prophecy about Jesus.  After this the prophecy turns to false Prophets.  God tells Jeremiah “My heart is broken the land is full of adulterers.  He say’s the prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.  I suppose you could say this applied to ancient Israel as well, but it fits today!

God say’s:  “Both Prophet and priest are godless;  even in my temple I find their wickedness, therefore their path will become slippery;  He goes on to say among the prophets of Samaria He saw a repulsive thing.  They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.”

“He say’s they commit adultery and live a lie.  They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness.  They are like Sodom to me; the people of JERUSALEM are like Gomorrah. ” I find this very interesting given the fact that Revelation 11:8 when speaking of the 2 witnesses killed by the antichrist mentions this.  “Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.”    We know the Lord was not crucified in Sodom and Egypt.  So Jeremiah is tying Jerusalem to Sodom and Gomorrah also.  He say’s “I will make them eat bitter food and drink poisoned water Because from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”  Revelation also talks about trumpet judgements that poison the waters of the antichrist kingdom.  H e goes on to say that “They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.”  The only people in Jerusalem today that are speaking visions from their own minds are the muslims.  Muhammed built this whole religion on a vision from an angel.    He goes on to say “See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.  The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of  his heart.  In days to come you will understand it clearly.  I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message;  I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.”

See this is the key, right here.  All the prophets of old were spoken to or visited by God.  Daniel had visions of an angel to interpret the visions he had.  But they didn’t bring the visions.  God is clearly warning us, and telling us how to judge the prophets.  If muhammed would have been a true prophet of God, he would have been visited by God, not an angel.  This false prophet did not come from God.

He ends the chapter  by warning against anyone who uses the words-“This is the Oracle of the Lord”  He say’s that the false oracle must not use those words because they distort the words of the living God, the Lord almighty.  He say’s  :Although you claim, this is the oracle of the Lord, this what the Lord says:  You used the words, ‘This is the oracle of the Lord, even though I told you that you must not claim that.  Therefore I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your fathers.  I will bring upon you everlasting  disgrace-ever-lasting shame that will not be forgotten.”

There are some scholars that lean toward some prophecies having a dual prophetic nature, meaning they are for ancient times and for the future or present time.  I think this is one of those prophecies.  We see God sending His Son into the world, to rule over His kingdom.   Then we see the prophets or those who claim to be prophets claiming falsely that God has given them a divine vision or prophecy.  That is clearly happening today.  Many are being slaughtered in the name of this False God, simply because they refuse to bow down to him.   We do have a promise at the end of the chapter, that God will bring upon them ever lasting shame and disgrace that will not be forgotten.  That’s pretty powerful.  In Revelation it says this false religion will be tossed into the pit with the dragon, Satan.  I think that would qualify as bringing upon them everlasting disgrace and ever lasting shame that will not be forgotten.  So we do have a promise that God will set things right with the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  All of the prophets got a glimpse of this.  So if you think that the prophets of old don’t have anything to say about our times today, you might want to go and re-read them.

Jesus said “When you see all these things begin to happen, look up your redemption draws near.”  Well it’s safe to say we should all be looking up, and watching the sky for His return.  Jesus tells us that the return of the Son of Man will be like lightening from the east to the west.  The 2 angels that asked the disciples what they were looking at in the sky after Jesus Ascended into Heaven, said this same Jesus will return the same way that He left, In the Clouds.  Paul say’s that the Lord will descend with his angels and with the shout of the Archangel we will meet him in the air.  Hallelujah!  The King is Coming.  Let not your hearts be troubled.  He’s coming, He’s Close, Can you feel Him?

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.  My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.  Amen.  1cor. 16:23-24

Categories: Prophecy