Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"I am against those who prophesy false dreams"
Text: Jeremiah 23:32
WHAT THE LORD IS AGAINST
What the LORD is against is made very clear in this word that Jeremiah proclaimed. These words of warning are still relevant to us today!
“‘Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,’ says the LORD,
‘who steal My words every one from his neighbour.
Behold, I am against the prophets,’ says the LORD,
‘who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’
‘Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ says the LORD,
‘and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness.
Yet I did not send them or command them;
therefore they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 23:30-32
1. “‘Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,’ says the LORD,
‘who steal My words every one from his neighbour.'”
a) There were so-called prophets who did not receive a word from the LORD.
b) This is what they did to cover the fact that they were not true prophets of God.
i) They stole the words or messages from their neighbours.
ii) They used the thoughts and messages of others and made them appear
as if these words were given to them by God.
iii) In literary circles this is called “plagiarism”.
2. “‘Behold, I am against the prophets,’ says the LORD,
‘who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.””
a) Some other prophets were “bolder”.
b) They simply claimed that God had spoken to them.
c) They would cite the Lord’s name and say “He (God) says”.
3. “‘Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ says the LORD, ‘and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the LORD.”
a) Then there were prophets who “prophesy false dreams”.
b) True prophetic dreams were given by the Lord.
i) They reveal the plans of God for the future.
ii) These plans were called “prophecies”.
iii) These would be fulfilled as God had purposed.
c) The danger of false prophetic dreams.
i) They cause people to err by their lies.
ii) They put people in danger by their recklessness.
d) A disclaimer by God.
i) He had not sent these prophets.
ii) Nor did He give them any commands.
e) The work of these false prophets.
i) They would not profit anyone.
ii) Their messages would prove futile.