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or a priest, ask you, “What is the oracle of the LORD?” say to them, “What
oracle?” I will forsake you,’ declares the LORD. ‘If a prophet or a priest or
anyone else claims, “This is the oracle of the LORD,” I will punish that
man and his household. This is what each of you keeps on saying to his
friend or relative: “What is the Lord’s answer?” or “What has the LORD
spoken?”
Bu t y ou mus t no t men t i on t he o ra c l e o f t he LORD aga i n ,
be c aus e e v e r y man ’ s own wo rd be c ome s h i s o ra c l e and s o y ou d i s t o r t t he
wo rds o f t he l i v i ng God , t he LORD Almi gh t y ,
our God. This is what
you keep saying to a prophet: “What is the Lord’s answer to you?” or
“What has the LORD spoken?” Although you claim, “This is the oracle of
the LORD,” this is what the LORD says: You used the words, “This is the
oracle of the LORD,” even though I told you that you must not claim,
“This is the oracle of the LORD.” Therefore, I will surely forget you and
cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your
fathers. I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace
−
everlasting shame that
will not be forgotten.’”
(Jeremiah 23: 1-40)
Just look around and see what the liberal people who claim to be Christians
allow, while they exist within their social and political environments. They
allow every conceivable precept of God to be broken, and deem them
acceptable by the laws of the land. The clerics consider themselves
prophets, but they speak contrary words, proclaiming their belief or
theologies yet remaining passive. They serve the world where money and
material wealth is their god.
It is obvious that Jeremiah was protected and comfortable, until he
addressed the truth and spoke openly about the wickedness within those
who claim to be faithful. Do you find the possibility of the shepherds
leading God’s people astray disturbing? Do you consider your church guilty
of this very thing? Suppose today you heard the Lord’s voice, and you took
the words to heart. Do these words of Jeremiah have significance in our
world today? Contemplate to whom these words apply; ask who is the king
or the righteous branch, the Lord Our Righteousness, because the answer is
revealed in the scriptures that follow.
The Lord spoke these words through Jeremiah; can you apply them in a
way that is contrary to your theology and belief? These times are similar to
the days when the Hebrews expected to be the chosen according to their
misunderstandings, and not according to God’s plan for them.
The days are those days when Jesus has raised up a righteous Branch,