1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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;
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
12 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.
13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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?
19 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.
20 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.
21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 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.
23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
24 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.
25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
26 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;
27 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.
28 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.
29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
32 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.
33 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.
34 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.
35 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?
36 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.
37 Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?
38 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;
39 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:
40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
Jeremiah Chapter 23 is a critical chapter in the book of Jeremiah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. The chapter is filled with divine proclamations and prophecies, primarily focusing on the themes of judgement and restoration. The chapter begins with a rebuke to the leaders, or shepherds, of Israel, who have led their flock astray, followed by a promise of a righteous Branch, a King who will rule wisely. The chapter then delves into the judgement of false prophets and ends with a warning against those who use their power to lead others astray.
The chapter is a blend of divine wrath and mercy, judgement and promise, providing a profound insight into the divine character of God as portrayed in the Old Testament. The themes of judgement and restoration are evident throughout the chapter, reflecting the broader themes of the book of Jeremiah.
The chapter begins with a stern rebuke to the leaders, or shepherds, of Israel. In verses 1-2, God, through Jeremiah, accuses the shepherds of destroying and scattering the sheep of His pasture. This is a metaphor for the way the leaders of Israel have led their people into sin and rebellion against God. Their failure to lead in righteousness has resulted in the dispersion and suffering of the people of Israel, a theme that is consistent throughout the book of Jeremiah.
In these verses, we see a clear denunciation of irresponsible leadership. The leaders, or shepherds, are held responsible for the state of their flock. When the leaders fail in their duty, it is the people, or the sheep, who suffer the consequences. This is a powerful warning to all those in positions of leadership and authority.
In verses 5-6, we find a prophecy about a coming King, a Righteous Branch of David's line, who will rule wisely and do what is just and right in the land. This prophecy is seen as a messianic prophecy, pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the "Branch" in the Old Testament.
This prophecy provides a stark contrast to the failed leadership of the shepherds. While the shepherds have led the people astray, the Righteous Branch will lead with wisdom and justice. This promise serves as a beacon of hope amidst the judgement, a promise of restoration and redemption.
Verses 9-40 contain a lengthy prophecy concerning false prophets. These verses are filled with vivid imagery and strong language, reflecting the seriousness of the sin of false prophecy. The false prophets are accused of leading the people astray with their lies and false visions, causing them to forget God's name.
In these verses, we see the destructive power of false prophecy. The false prophets not only lead the people astray, but they also profane the name of God by attributing their lies to Him. This is a grave sin, and the judgement pronounced upon the false prophets is severe.
Yet, even in the midst of this judgement, there is a promise of restoration. In verse 20, God declares that "in the latter days you will understand it clearly." This suggests that, despite the current judgement, there will come a time when the people will understand God's ways and return to Him.
In verses 28-29, God's word is compared to a fire and a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. This imagery underscores the power of God's word. It is not merely words on a page, but a living and active force, capable of bringing about judgement and restoration.
This emphasis on the power of God's word serves as a counterpoint to the false words of the prophets. While they speak lies and deceit, God's word is truth and power. It is a force to be reckoned with, not to be taken lightly or manipulated for one's own ends.
In conclusion, Jeremiah Chapter 23 is a powerful chapter that underscores the themes of judgement and restoration. It is a stern rebuke to the leaders of Israel, a promise of a Righteous Branch, a judgement of false prophets, and a testament to the power of God's word. The chapter serves as a warning to those in positions of leadership and authority, a beacon of hope for those longing for righteous leadership, and a call to faithfulness for all who seek to follow God.
The chapter provides a profound insight into the divine character of God. It reveals a God who is just and righteous, who will not tolerate sin and rebellion, but who is also merciful and compassionate, promising restoration and redemption. It is a testament to the faithfulness of God, even in the midst of judgement and despair.
Ultimately, Jeremiah Chapter 23 challenges us to examine our own lives and leadership. Are we leading others astray, or are we leading them towards righteousness? Are we speaking truth, or are we speaking lies? Are we living in light of the power of God's word, or are we taking it lightly? These are the questions that Jeremiah Chapter 23 compels us to ask, inviting us into a deeper understanding of God's character and our own responsibilities.
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