“Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain! Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces? [Jeremiah 23:28-29 NLT]
“You prophets who do nothing but dream—go ahead and tell your silly dreams. But you prophets who have a message from me—tell it truly and faithfully. What does straw have in common with wheat? Nothing else is like God’s Decree. Isn’t my Message like fire?” God’s Decree. “Isn’t it like a sledgehammer busting a rock? [Jeremiah 23:28-29 MSG]
Observation
Jeremiah is speaking for the Lord to false prophets – ones who say what people want to hear, those condoning sin and ignoring the consequences for themselves and those deceived by their prophecies. Jeremiah was not popular with the other prophets or the authorities in power. He kept predicting God’s coming judgment while the others were assuring the people that judgment would never come despite the idolatry and general/public acceptance of sinful practices. Somehow, being Jewish gave them a free pass to do as they pleased without every facing judgment. They forgot that the Covenant contained both blessings and curses.
Through Jeremiah, God is saying that time is up! His patience is at an end. He will keep His covenant promises – good and bad. His word told “truly and faithfully” is like fire or a sledgehammer busting a rock – both destructive forces that reduce straw to ash and a boulder to dust. These people must only wanted to hear good news – God is a softy who will never bring judgment on us. They must have thought the Temple of God provided some magical protection regardless of their behavior. It should have been no surprise when God fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecies by stepping aside to allow His people to be swept off into the Babylonian Captivity. Consider that the faithful and unfaithful alike were taken away…
Impact on Me
So, the same battle raged then as now – confronting the desire to be liked rather than risk it all by being a truth teller, the desire for favor, position, authority and power from men rather than from God, the belief that judgment will never come, being a false prophet. How very human to want to be liked and recognized, to want to “know” and “understand” so you appear important or smarter than everyone else, to be considered an insider in power or prophetic circles. All this is a search for significance that has gotten lost in the woods of the world, the miry clay, the quicksand of the Enemy to keep our hope in ourselves to find meaning and value in life, to listen to what we want to hear.
There is always that underlying temptation to have itching ears that tell us that God is a softy and will never execute judgment. BUT God loves us so much that He is faithful to send us those who will “tell it truly and faithfully” even when we don’t like the message or the messenger. Our God is faithful to keep bringing our focus back to the search for our significance in Christ. The Holy Spirit works in turning our eyes, our efforts, from what we can do in our own strength to allowing Jesus to be Himself in and through us. He woos us to trust in Him especially when we don’t understand or don’t like our circumstances, to submit to His sovereign will and plan because we know that He is in control of all.
Devotion
Father God, so merciful, so faithful, so just and trustworthy, I worship You. I give permission to Your Holy Spirit to search me for any pockets of self-righteousness, any ways in which my significance is not found in You. I want to trash the pride that makes me want to be known and recognized, especially when what I do does not honor You. Redirect my path if I have gone astray. Shut my mouth if You are not speaking. Expose and deal with the expectations I have placed on You that are not of You. You are sovereign and, whether my life is blessed or a sacrifice, yet I will praise You. In Jesus’ name, make it so.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 