10.21.2014 Old Testament: Jer 5.14–17

To read the Bible in a year, read Jeremiah 5–6 on October 21, In the year of our Lord 2014

By Don Ruhl

False prophets announced that evil would not come upon Judah and Jerusalem, that the Lord would not destroy their city and their nation, but He heard their lies, and had Jeremiah write these words,

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.
Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar,
O house of Israel,” says the Lord.
“It is a mighty nation,
It is an ancient nation,
A nation whose language you do not know,
Nor can you understand what they say.
Their quiver is like an open tomb;
They are all mighty men.
And they shall eat up your harvest and your bread,
Which your sons and daughters should eat.
They shall eat up your flocks and your herds;
They shall eat up your vines and your fig trees;
They shall destroy your fortified cities,
In which you trust, with the sword.”
(Jeremiah 5.14–17) 

The Lord foretold through the mouth and writings of Jeremiah what would happen to Judah and Jerusalem, but false prophets sought to reassure the people that Jeremiah did not know the truth. Therefore, the false prophets only made the situation worse, because the people saw no need to repent.

Do not lie about the Lord, nor listen to lies.