False Prophets - Jeremiah 14

Jeremiah 14:14 "Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart."

Jeremiah seems to be wondering about what he is told to tell the people. One the one hand the LORD is telling him that there will be great trouble and Jeremiah is suppose to convey that message to the people. But all the other prophets are telling the people that everything will be alright and that there will be peace in the land.

Patiently the LORD explains that the false prophets did not get their information from him.

Here are some of the things Jeremiah was to tell them v3 "...no water..." v4 "...no water..." v6 "...no grass..." It is a picture of gloom and doom that Jeremiah is told to tell the people. The false prophets, on the other hand, are telling them all is well, just keep doing what you are doing.

v9 "Why shouldest thou be as a man astonished, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not."

Jeremiah must surely know that he has a direct line with God, that he has the true message. At the same time, it must have been a hard message to absorb when he remembers the greatness of Israel and the way it was before the rebellion against God.

It is not that the LORD cannot save. It is that Israel is going under judgment and the LORD chooses not to save at this time in order to teach Israel a lesson.

v13 "Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. "

The big difference: Jeremiah says 'Thus saith the Lord" while the false prophets put in the big "I". The false prophets have neither the ability or the authority to make such a statement and the Lord calls them lairs.

v15 "Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed."

The chapter ends with a plea for the LORD to not turn against Israel.

v21 "Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory; remember, break not thy covenant with us."

It shows that Israel has not been listening to the words sent to them through the prophets. The verse on the one hand lifts up the Lord, then accuses Him of breaking the covenant when it is Israel that is worshipping idols and has turned away plea after plea to repent.

The answer next.