Jeremiah 23

The prophets in Jeremiah's time are not prophesying God's message but running with their own message. They want to say what everybody wants to hear. That way they will be accepted and liked and even paid for it. Are we tempted to say only what people want to hear? It is so easy to fall into. We want to be nice. We want people to feel good about themselves. We want to feel good about our country or our church and not look at its flaws.

The prophets are also not living righteously. Our message is blunted when we do not live right. We cannot sin sexually be avaricious to cheat others in business or gossip and speak meanly about others and then turn around and expect people to respect our opinions of God or be encouraged by our good works. We must be above reproach so that God can be glorified. God can then send his Holy Spirit to anoint our works.

There will be grace in all this. When we do sin we can return to God and repent and be forgiven. And God can bless the works of a sinner. But it is depending purely on grace and we cannot force it on God. He knows best and has a plan.

ES mentioned that few people go through Jeremiah like this. Let me tell you it is hard to do. I feel buffeted. If I am going to enter into the text I am going to think about my sin, the sins of our culture, the sins of my family, and so on. It's is hard to come back to the next chapter.