Jeremiah 14:13-22--Lying Prophets

Jeremiah 14:13-22
English Standard Version

Lying Prophets
13 Then I said: “Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” 14 And the LORD said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. 15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.

17 “You shall say to them this word:
‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day,
    and let them not cease,
for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound,
    with a very grievous blow.
18 If I go out into the field,
    behold, those pierced by the sword!
And if I enter the city,
    behold, the diseases of famine!
For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land
    and have no knowledge.’”

19 Have you utterly rejected Judah?
    Does your soul loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
    so that there is no healing for us?
We looked for peace, but no good came;
    for a time of healing, but behold, terror.
20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD,
    and the iniquity of our fathers,
    for we have sinned against you.
21 Do not spurn us, for your name's sake;
    do not dishonor your glorious throne;
    remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22 Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain?
    Or can the heavens give showers?
Are you not he, O LORD our God?
    We set our hope on you,
    for you do all these things.

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The whole time that the LORD is trying to speak to the people through the voice of Jeremiah, the false prophets of Baal and all the other false gods are telling the people not to listen to Jeremiah and certainly peace, blessing, and prosperity will come upon them (for the right price)  Some of these false prophets are even prophesying in the name of the LORD, though they do not know Him and certainly did not receive their message from Him.  These prophets should have been tested according to the Word of the LORD given in Deuteronomy 18.   However, their hearts were so far gone, they desired to hear what they wanted to hear--what tickled their ears and soothed their souls.  They did not want to hear messages of sin, judgment and destruction.  They wanted to hear, "Peace, peace."

​The LORD promises that the judgment that certainly is coming in the form of sword and famine will consume these prophets that say it is not coming.  Those that believed these false prophets and stayed in Jerusalem would die and be cast out on the street for the unclean animals to eat and the unclean birds to pick at, because there would be no one left to bury them.  Wives, sons and daughters will all be swept up in the judgment--none will be exempted.  Jeremiah will weep for them, especially the innocent children.  Everywhere he goes whether in the city or in the farmland, there are bodies everywhere.  The city is also full of disease and famine.  Where did things break down?  How could things come to this?  The LORD tells Jeremiah that both priest and prophet have failed in their duties and have been out for themselves and given the people false hose and a false blessing where the Law and the truth should have been spoken.

Jeremiah asks the LORD if He is done with Judah.  Is the covenant broken where they are getting the equivalent of a divorce?  Jeremiah cannot understand why the LORD has seemingly turned against them.  There is neither peace nor blessing to be found anywhere.  Though they seem to confess their sins, they have not repented.  They are still proud in admitting their sins.  The LORD is not impressed that they simply know all the evil they have done.  That is no reason for Him to turn from His anger.  It just shows they are not ignorant of their deeds and they are truly rebellious.

They try to put all the blame at the feet of former generations like they are being punished for another generation's sin.  They refuse to see that they themselves are wicked.  They ask God to not break covenant for His Name's sake while they are busy blaspheming His Name and cheating on Him.  It is for His Name's sake that He is acting.  By their conduct, these people have done much damage to His Name.

Jeremiah asks the people what should be a rhetorical question.  Can any of the gods they worship stop this drought and famine and open up the heavens to bring rain?  The answer of course is, "No," but the people believed that was what Baal did.  The LORD had to send this famine and drought n them to show them that their worship of Baal was in vain.  Only the LORD can control the weather and only He can save His people.  Jeremiah cries out for that salvation (though the LORD has told Him not to, he can't help but intercede for this people).  If the LORD will not help and save them, then they are utterly lost and without hope both in this life and for all eternity.