Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria"
Text: Jeremiah 23:13
FALSE PROPHETS
False prophets were found in both the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms. Samaria was the capital of Israel, and Jerusalem was the capital of Judah. These prophets were rebuked by the LORD!
“And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria:
They prophesied by Baal
And caused My people Israel to err.
Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem:
They commit adultery and walk in lies;
They also strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one turns back from his wickedness.
All of them are like Sodom to Me,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
Jeremiah 23:13-14
1. The prophets of Samaria
a) They were foolish prophets.
b) They prophesied by Baal.
c) They caused Israel to err.
i) Israel became idolatrous.
ii) The Northern Kingdom was destroyed in 722 BC by the Assyrians.
2. The prophets of Jerusalem
a) They were “horrible”.
b) They were worse than the prophets of Samaria.
i) They were immoral.
ii) They were liars.
iii) They helped evildoers.
3. Consequences
a) No one repented. No one turned from doing evil.
b) The nation of Judah had become like Sodom and Gomorrah to the Lord.
c) Judah was destined for destruction in the near future.
d) The prophets did nothing significant to help Judah avert this disaster.