Sunday: Godless Priests and Prophets
Removed as we are by more than two thousand years chronologically from Judah, and perhaps even further removed culturally and socially, it’s hard for us to understand all that was going on in the time of Jeremiah. When reading the Bible, especially the harsh warnings and threats that God uttered against the people, many people think that the Lord is portrayed here as harsh, mean, and vindictive.
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
This, however, is a false understanding, based only on a superficial reading of the texts. Instead, what the Old Testament reveals is what the New Testament does as well: God loves humanity and wants it saved, but He does not force our choice. If we want to do wrong, even despite His pleas to us, we are free to do so. We just have to remember not only the consequences but that we were warned about them beforehand.
What were some of the evils that the Lord was dealing with in Judah? What were some of the evils Jeremiah was prophesying against? Jer. 23:14-15; Jer. 5:26-31.
The litany of evils presented here is just a small sampling of what God’s people had fallen into. Both the priests and prophets weregodless,
an incredible irony considering that the priests were to be representatives of God, and the prophets to be spokesmen for Him. And this is just the beginning of the problems Jeremiah confronted.
The evils presented here come under a variety of types. There is the apostasy of the spiritual leaders; they also lead others to do evil so that no one turns back from his wickedness
(Jer. 23:14, NKJV). Even when the Lord warns about coming judgment, the prophets tell them that it won’t come. Meanwhile, as far as they were from God, they had forgotten the admonition about taking care of the orphans and about defending the poor (Jer. 5:28). In every way, the nation had fallen from the Lord. So much of the Bible, at least among the prophetic books of the Old Testament, records the Lord seeking to call His wayward people back. That is, despite all these evils, and more, He was willing to forgive them, heal them, and even restore them. But if they refused, what else could be done?
(28)
Apostasy was something the people disputed for they were led by the Kings and nobles and corrupt prophets and priests. Then again we must understand the influence of foreigners living among them, dealing in business together, solving matters at the gate in each community, village, outpost or district and even province. So with these background impacting on one's worldview it is easy for us to dismiss them as arrogant but it would be wise to see the context and motives made by one and collectively as impossible to make sound and intelligent, educated, even moral biblical responsible decisions. So I come up with some of the many factors that distorts their worldviews that finally impairs their analysis which degrades their moral ethical biblical decisions which only begets idolatry, evil, licentious and presumptuous life that reveals the devil's character.
1). The forefathers lack of courage in removing all heathens from the land;
2). The forefathers who demanded to be ruled by a King instead of Yahweh through the prophets and priests;
3). The dealings of the kings with other heathen kings;
4). The civil laws of the land that allows and encourage the existence or practice of other heathen belief, practice and customs;
5). Cross culture marriages;
6). Corrupt kings ;
7). Corrupt prophets and priests;
These are just some of the factors that help shape one's worldview that detests and abhor Jeremiah's message as irrelevant and redundant for worship to Yahweh was still done with inclusion of heathen icons/gods; with heathen priestess inclusion that beclouded the religious and morality of the prophets and priests. However, having said the above, it still does not justify the Israelite to sin and to fornicate and commit adultery and every other wickedness. This had developed a character only depicting the character of rebellion towards God and His Character but allegiance to the Devil and his character. So in this Great Controversy if one thinks he does not wanna commit to either God and Devil to be neutral than that person is as good as the Devil's advocate. My prayer is that we will not allow the diverse cultures religions, business trappings of the current modernity to determine who we are, as citizens of Heaven. We are a peculiar people with a peculiar message and a peculiar mandate to go forth and warn the world of the coming King so to prepare all people, tongue and whatever for the Parousia or His Second Coming.
Very True, very spiritual but impractical, because if we alienate ourselves from the World have no dealings with the World we would come to the point where we don't need grace! And we are the salt, so lets make the World a tastier place..
How did we get here? The condition of the godless priests and false prophets was not created overnight or merely the result of inherited corrupt genes, but was in part cultivated over time (Jeremiah 23:14-15).
Some parents and teachers may wonder how it is they trained up their children rightly and yet the young ones later depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Did they really or was the training wholesome?
Neglecting restraint and adopting modern self-esteem ideas which make an idol of children and inculcate self-importance into them many may think they do well. Have the supposed enlightened methods produced more godly youngsters who are very close to the Lord?
Taking a cue from Lucifer who nurtured pride in his beauty and position (Ezekiel 28:13-17) some parents, teachers and leaders proudly express pride in their own children’s performance, church attainments and other accomplishments.
A competitive spirit is encouraged which work against humility and young ones are led to believe that the excitement of contests and outperforming their colleagues make pursuits worthwhile. Bible study is made into a tournament or bowl, for it is no longer sufficient motivation to study simply to please God (2 Timothy 2:15).
How did we get here? Seeds are sown which yield fruit in due season. Priests, prophets, parents and other leaders are required to give an account for the example they set and how they guide those whom they influence.
To move into the right direction will first require an honest evaluation. Then the Holy Spirit may work with the desire to walk worthy and influence rightly (Ephesians 4:1).
Thank you brother. I needed to hear this. God guided me here, to hear this message. I am a parent of 4.
Over and over again the message from Jehovah through Jeremiah to His people is - "you have forsaken Me" "you are worshipping other gods" and as a result of them rebelling against Jehovah and turning their backs on Him they committed all these evils acts.
I believe the main message of Jeremiah is: the people accepted Jehovah's covenant to be their God and to be His people but then they changed their minds and broke the covenant, so as per Lev 26, Jehovah brought on them the sword, famine and plague to try and get them to turn back to Him but because they refused as a last resort He let Babylon take them captive so that they would once again seek Him with all their hearts so He could bring them back to the Promised Land. I believe the background to the book of Jeremiah is the Everlasting Covenant - I will be your God and you will be My people and I will dwell with you.
Jerem.23:13-15 tells us about the sins comitted by prophets and today we find that some of our ministers and Elders are falling into the same trap and sadly it has rubbed off onto the followers as well,in fact it was so bad that Jeremiah uttered these words in Jerem.20:18 "why did I ever come out the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame"We have been warned through the writings of Sis.White that leaders would apostatice against the church and sadly some members would follow them.Let us not allow Satan to lead us astray God is calling us back despite the evils we commit,He is willing to forgive but we must be willing to make the change.
I believe we are living in times that mirror this. Bad is now good. Good is now bad. Darkness is now light and light is now darkness.
God please give us a Holy boldness to share the truth in love; to continue to pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light.
A people of great privilege and responsibility turn away from their true purpose and live for themselves in sinful indulgence, though God had done all possible for them in order that through them He could save a world. Instead, this blessed nation consorted with the Enemy of God and man, furthering the spread of apostasy against the Benevolent Sovereign Being who gives Life and every good thing to His creatures for their eternal joy.
Today there is an even more enlightened, privileged, and responsible "nation" with a distinct message of salvation for a dying world. How is that going? Keep in mind that this "nation" is made up of individuals who make daily choices on this matter of following their Leader or consorting with the enemy. God has demonstrated His judgments against all who draw back from their covenant with Him (through baptism) and fail to follow their Victorious Leader in rescuing the perishing.
There is great danger in falling into the trap of "[smiting our] fellow servants" and "eating and drinking with the drunken".
For every action in life there is a consequence for it. Just like it was in Judah, are we not following the same pattern of gradually drawing away from the lord. Have consistently check to see if we are on the right path. Some of the people were just following those priest and prophets sheepishly not knowing the consequencies of their actions. Though its more of a personal question
Why is it so hard to admit that our leaders could be in the same situation as those in Judah?
Is it a sin to maybe question the very problem that brought the nation of Israel down. We need to have a reality check and be very pragmatic about the lesson this week and allow the Holy Spirit to work within the ranks of our church so it can be cleanse from those politicians and administrators that should not be leading this spiritual nation to perdition. They know whom they are and they should recognise that the weight of their sins will collapse the church eventually. It's never popular to say these things but someone needs to be a martyr and speak out in love.
Richard, many sympathize with your thoughts, but in this matter we are to wait on the Lord. We have been counseled to "remove the Achans from the camp", but this line is followed by "Let each search his own heart....".
Once those who are found faithful are safe to seal, God will do a work of cleansing the church of all dross at that time. See Isaiah 4 and realize this is God's doing and will soon take place. If our heart is linked with His in all our ways, we will be "left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning."
All indications in and out of the church are that this will come soon and swiftly while most are not expecting it. Read also EW 269-272. We each have a solemn work to do. Also, Ps 37:1-11 is a nice encouraging passage on this subject.
It saddens the heart when the Lord did all he could do to get the people (us) to turn from our wicked ways. We act as though the word of the Lord will not come to pass. In these last days God has spoken to us though his Son, yet we will not heed the warning. Help us Lord Jesus to see the writing on the wall as you did in the day of Daniel!