PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD

Jeremiah 23:1-18

Saturday, 11 October 2025

“For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD

to see and to hear his word,

or who has paid attention to his word and listened? -Jeremiah 23:18

The Prophet Jeremiah lived during a period when the people of Israel and Judea were deep in sin. A major reason for the nation’s deep-rooted immorality was the ungodly and corrupt leadership and guidance of the shepherds. While Jeremiah declared God’s impending judgment that was to come upon the unrepentant nation, the false prophets offered watered-down prophecies of peace and prosperity that were appealing to the sinful people. As history reveals, the continued wickedness of the people led to calamity and captivity, just as Jeremiah had prophesied.  

The shepherds (the leaders) as well as prophets and priests are rebuked for leading the people astray into idolatry and other types of sins and are warned of the punishment for their evil deeds. Yet the Lord gives them hope for the future in Verses 5&6—a time when He will raise  “a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” He shall be called “The LORD is our righteousness” and will save His people make them dwell safely. This clearly is a prophecy of Christ’s future rule over the land.

Coming to their current crisis- how did it spiral down thus? The ungodly prophets and priestshave failed in their role to hear from God and deliver God’s messages to His people. They were misleading people with false prophecies and visions from their own minds. In Jer.23:18, we see what is expected of a priest or prophet to do- stand in the counsel of God, perceive, receive from Him, hear His Word and administer it to His people! Prophets who speak “… a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD” (V.16) are not to be heeded.

The text is quite relevant today. Jesus warned us, in the end times, “false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”(Matthew 24:24) In these days, we see many ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ rise up, preaching deceptive doctrines and wrong gospel, leading even believers astray (1Timothy 4:1, 2 Peter 3:3 & Jude 17-18). To the body of Christ, this gives a clear warning - one that the people of Jeremiah’s time did not heed and ultimately led to judgment from God. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) 

Just as the Berean Jews examined the Scriptures daily to see if what the Apostle Paul taught was true (Acts 17:11), we too should diligently examine the teachings and prophecies of men of God to understand if they are consistent with the Word of God. The “feel-good” words from preachers or prophets may not always be in line with the pure Word of God that convicts, instructs, corrects us to live godly lives in a corrupt world.

The Lord’s command to all serving the Lord— be it prophets, pastors, elders, evangelists or teachers- is to be faithful in declaring His Word: “…he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.” (Jer.23:28) In a time and age where, the god of this world has blinded the minds of men so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, (2 Corinthians 4:4) such that they can’t discern the Truth from worldly wisdom, this is a call for God’s people, to faithfully declare the Word of God like Jeremiah. It is our responsibility to ‘be the light of the world’, preaching repentance from sin, that those in darkness may be led to Christ. 

To Act on: Let us proclaim the powerful Word of God to a perishing world, that people would place their faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.