Jeremiah 23: God's Judgment on False Shepherds and Promise of a Righteous King
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.
Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.
And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
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 should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.
And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.
And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house.
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?
And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.
Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken?
But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord;
Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:
And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
Jeremiah 23 focuses on God's indictment of the leaders of Judah, whom he holds accountable for their failure to care for his people. However, amidst the pronouncements of judgment, there shines a beacon of hope – the promise of a righteous king who will ultimately shepherd God's flock with justice and righteousness. This chapter serves as both a stark warning against false leadership and a powerful affirmation of God's unwavering commitment to his people. Jeremiah 23
Woe to the Shepherds (Jeremiah 23:1-4)
The Lord begins by declaring "woe" upon the "shepherds" – the leaders of Judah – who have scattered and destroyed the sheep of his pasture (Jeremiah 23:1). These faithless leaders, driven by self-interest and a lack of genuine concern for the people, have led Judah astray, resulting in exile and suffering. Their negligence and corruption would not go unpunished. But God doesn't leave his people without hope. He promises a day when he will regather his flock from the lands where they have been scattered. More importantly, he will raise up new shepherds who will truly care for them, ensuring their safety and well-being (Jeremiah 23:4). This promise speaks to God's ultimate desire for his people: to be led by those who reflect his own heart of compassion and justice.
The Righteous Branch: A King of Justice and Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5-8)
The hope offered in the first verses blossoms into a glorious prophecy concerning the coming Messiah. The Lord declares that he will raise up a "Righteous Branch" from the line of David (Jeremiah 23:5). This is a clear Messianic prophecy, echoing similar promises found in Isaiah 11:1 and Zechariah 3:8. Unlike the wicked kings who preceded him, this king will reign with justice and righteousness, bringing security and peace to Judah and Israel (Jeremiah 23:5-6). His very name, "The LORD Is Our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6), reveals his divine nature and his role as the source of salvation for his people. This king is none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who will ultimately establish his millennial kingdom, ruling in righteousness and gathering his people from all corners of the earth (Jeremiah 23:8). This promise transcends the immediate context of Jeremiah's time, offering a vision of God's ultimate plan for redemption and restoration.
The Ungodliness of False Prophets and Priests (Jeremiah 23:9-14)
While the promise of a righteous king offers hope for the future, Jeremiah doesn't shy away from addressing the pressing issues of his day. He turns his attention to the false prophets and priests who were leading the people astray. These ungodly individuals polluted the temple with their sins and idolatry (Jeremiah 23:11). Instead of speaking truth and calling the people to repentance, they preached false peace and security, lulling them into a state of complacency as the Babylonian threat loomed. Their immorality and corruption were so pervasive that God compares them to Sodom and Gomorrah (Jeremiah 23:14), highlighting the severity of their sin and the certainty of their judgment. These false leaders, like those in Samaria who led Israel astray (Jeremiah 23:13), were leading Judah down a path of destruction.
The Consequences of Rejecting God's Word (Jeremiah 23:15-32)
God's message to the people was clear: Do not listen to the false prophets, for their visions come from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16). God had not sent them, nor had they stood in his presence to receive his word (Jeremiah 23:21-22). In fact, God was against them (Jeremiah 23:31-32). The false prophets' assurances of peace and safety were in direct opposition to God's call to repentance (Jeremiah 25:17-18). Jeremiah uses powerful imagery to describe the nature of God's word: it is like fire, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29). To disregard God's word is to invite his wrath and anger (Jeremiah 23:19-20). This section serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of discerning truth from falsehood and of heeding God's word above all else.
Stop Misusing God's Name (Jeremiah 23:33-40)
The chapter concludes with God's rebuke of those who misused his name and falsely claimed to speak on his behalf. They had turned the solemn pronouncement "The burden of the LORD" into a meaningless phrase, a kind of magic formula (Jeremiah 23:34). God holds his word in the highest esteem, even above his own name (Psalm 138:2). Therefore, he commands the false prophets to stop misusing his name and pretending to speak for him. Those who disobeyed would face everlasting disgrace and humiliation (Jeremiah 23:40). This passage underscores the seriousness of handling God's word with reverence and integrity, and the consequences of distorting or misrepresenting his message.
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.
Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.
And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
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 should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.
And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.
And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house.
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?
And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.
Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken?
But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord;
Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:
And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
Jeremiah 23 focuses on God's indictment of the leaders of Judah, whom he holds accountable for their failure to care for his people. However, amidst the pronouncements of judgment, there shines a beacon of hope – the promise of a righteous king who will ultimately shepherd God's flock with justice and righteousness. This chapter serves as both a stark warning against false leadership and a powerful affirmation of God's unwavering commitment to his people. Jeremiah 23
Woe to the Shepherds (Jeremiah 23:1-4)
The Lord begins by declaring "woe" upon the "shepherds" – the leaders of Judah – who have scattered and destroyed the sheep of his pasture (Jeremiah 23:1). These faithless leaders, driven by self-interest and a lack of genuine concern for the people, have led Judah astray, resulting in exile and suffering. Their negligence and corruption would not go unpunished. But God doesn't leave his people without hope. He promises a day when he will regather his flock from the lands where they have been scattered. More importantly, he will raise up new shepherds who will truly care for them, ensuring their safety and well-being (Jeremiah 23:4). This promise speaks to God's ultimate desire for his people: to be led by those who reflect his own heart of compassion and justice.
The Righteous Branch: A King of Justice and Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5-8)
The hope offered in the first verses blossoms into a glorious prophecy concerning the coming Messiah. The Lord declares that he will raise up a "Righteous Branch" from the line of David (Jeremiah 23:5). This is a clear Messianic prophecy, echoing similar promises found in Isaiah 11:1 and Zechariah 3:8. Unlike the wicked kings who preceded him, this king will reign with justice and righteousness, bringing security and peace to Judah and Israel (Jeremiah 23:5-6). His very name, "The LORD Is Our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6), reveals his divine nature and his role as the source of salvation for his people. This king is none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who will ultimately establish his millennial kingdom, ruling in righteousness and gathering his people from all corners of the earth (Jeremiah 23:8). This promise transcends the immediate context of Jeremiah's time, offering a vision of God's ultimate plan for redemption and restoration.
The Ungodliness of False Prophets and Priests (Jeremiah 23:9-14)
While the promise of a righteous king offers hope for the future, Jeremiah doesn't shy away from addressing the pressing issues of his day. He turns his attention to the false prophets and priests who were leading the people astray. These ungodly individuals polluted the temple with their sins and idolatry (Jeremiah 23:11). Instead of speaking truth and calling the people to repentance, they preached false peace and security, lulling them into a state of complacency as the Babylonian threat loomed. Their immorality and corruption were so pervasive that God compares them to Sodom and Gomorrah (Jeremiah 23:14), highlighting the severity of their sin and the certainty of their judgment. These false leaders, like those in Samaria who led Israel astray (Jeremiah 23:13), were leading Judah down a path of destruction.
The Consequences of Rejecting God's Word (Jeremiah 23:15-32)
God's message to the people was clear: Do not listen to the false prophets, for their visions come from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16). God had not sent them, nor had they stood in his presence to receive his word (Jeremiah 23:21-22). In fact, God was against them (Jeremiah 23:31-32). The false prophets' assurances of peace and safety were in direct opposition to God's call to repentance (Jeremiah 25:17-18). Jeremiah uses powerful imagery to describe the nature of God's word: it is like fire, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29). To disregard God's word is to invite his wrath and anger (Jeremiah 23:19-20). This section serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of discerning truth from falsehood and of heeding God's word above all else.
Stop Misusing God's Name (Jeremiah 23:33-40)
The chapter concludes with God's rebuke of those who misused his name and falsely claimed to speak on his behalf. They had turned the solemn pronouncement "The burden of the LORD" into a meaningless phrase, a kind of magic formula (Jeremiah 23:34). God holds his word in the highest esteem, even above his own name (Psalm 138:2). Therefore, he commands the false prophets to stop misusing his name and pretending to speak for him. Those who disobeyed would face everlasting disgrace and humiliation (Jeremiah 23:40). This passage underscores the seriousness of handling God's word with reverence and integrity, and the consequences of distorting or misrepresenting his message.