Standing Up for the Truth
Scripture Passage: Jeremiah 23:9-15(NASB)
9 As for the prophets:
My heart is broken within me,
All my bones tremble;
I have become like a drunken man,
And like a man overcome by wine,
Because of the Lord
And because of His holy words.
10 For the land is full of adulterers;
For the land mourns because of the curse.
The pastures of the wilderness have dried up.
Their course is evil
And their might is not right.
11 “For both prophet and priest are defiled;
Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them,
They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it;
For I will bring disaster upon them,
The year of their punishment,” declares the Lord.
13 “Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing:
They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.
14 Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing:
The committing of adultery and walking in deceit;
And they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one has turned back from his wickedness.
All of them have become to Me like Sodom,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.
15 Therefore this is what the Lord of armies says concerning the prophets:
‘Behold, I am going to feed them wormwood
And make them drink poisonous water,
For from the prophets of Jerusalem
Ungodliness has spread into all the land.’”
SUMMARY
Jeremiah speaks out against the prophets of Jerusalem saying they have turned away from walking with the Lord and are “committing adultery and walking in deceit” (vs 14). He says God will bring judgement upon them and will “make them drink poisonous water” (vs 15).
MEDITATION AND REFLECTION
Seeing how the prophets of Jerusalem were in a position of power and influence over people, yet were not able to obey God and his ways is truly disturbing. It makes me realize that none of us are exempt from walking in sin, even if we claim to know God and his word. I realize that I need to be careful in the way that I conduct myself and my thoughts because no one, not even the prophets who knew God, are exempt from falling into sin.
APPLICATION
Through this scripture I realized that I need to not only set boundaries for myself, but also in my relationships with others. In verse 14, it says that the prophets “strengthen the hands of evildoers” and are “walking in deceit”, I think that I also do these sins because of my pride. I want others' approval and to be comfortable so I don’t say when things are wrong, but in allowing it I also strengthen the hands of evildoers. I need to be able to stand up for the truth, even if that means going against people, just like how Jeremiah proclaimed judgement against the prophets and their actions.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, I pray that I have the conviction and discernment that comes from knowing you and the Holy Spirit. I pray that as I seek you, you will show me your way and I will have the courage to also walk in it and speak out against sin, even if it involves those close to me.
Amen!
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