Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"And the prophets become wind"
Text: Jeremiah 5:13
THE FAILURE OF PROPHETS
God has the prerogative to call different people into the prophetic ministry. Some came from very humble backgrounds (e.g., Micah). Others were called when they were still rather young (e.g., Jeremiah).
All prophets were given the Word of God to study and then to proclaim that prophetic word. Some prophets did not prove faithful in the ministry of the word of God.
“‘And the prophets become wind,
For the word is not in them.
Thus shall it be done to them.’
Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts:
‘Because you speak this word,
Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire,
And this people wood,
And it shall devour them.'”
Jeremiah 5:13-14
1. “And the prophets become wind, for the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them.”
a) A prophet of God must have the Word of the Lord in them:
i) In their mind
ii) In their heart
iii) In their life
b) Where the Word of God is lacking:
i) The prophets become “wind”.
ii) Our idiom today, “hot air”.
c) They lose out as true prophets of God.
d) They lose their prophetic ministry ultimately.
e) Worse, they become false prophets.
f) God then opposes them strongly.
2. “Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts: ‘Because you speak this word, behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.'”
a) “Because you speak this word”
“They have lied about the LORD,
And said, ‘It is not He.
Neither will evil come upon us,
Nor shall we see sword or famine.'”
Jeremiah 5:12