Old Testament: Jer 23.21–22

To read the Bible in a year, read Jeremiah 23–24 on October 28, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

There were men in the days of Jeremiah who claimed to speak for the Lord just as Jeremiah did. However, what those prophets spoke encouraged the people to sin. Therefore, they could not have been from the Lord. The Lord said: 

“I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.”

– Jeremiah 23.21–22 

If they had truly wanted to serve as prophets, all they had to do was stand in the Lord’s counsel and cause the people to hear and to understand the words of God. That would have turned them from their sin, but since these prophets dreamed up their own message, they led Judah to sin. 

Questions: 

• Do you encourage people to sin or to hear God’s written word? 
• If people followed you, would they sin or follow God’s word? 

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