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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 268

"The water of gall"

Text: Jeremiah 23:15

THE JUDGMENT OF THE FALSE PROPHETS

The prophets were held in some esteem by Judah. Many would not be able to distinguish between a true and a false prophet. The LORD certainly could. He issued judgment against them!

“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets:
‘Behold, I will feed them with wormwood,
And make them drink the water of gall;
For from the prophets of Jerusalem
Profaneness has gone out into all the land.'”
Jeremiah 23:15

1. “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets”

a) This word came from God.

b) He is spoken of as “The LORD of hosts”.

i) This was a formal title of God.

ii) The “hosts” is a reference to God’s angelic army.

iii) It is like a military title.

c) The meaning is very clear.

i) God will fight against these false prophets.

ii) He will punish these false servants of God severely.

2. “Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall”

a) Wormwood is a type of bitter herb.

b) The water of gall is also a reference to something that is very bitter.

c) God will make the lives of these false prophets very bitter!

3. “For from the prophets of Jerusalem profaneness has gone out into all the land”

a) The prophets of Jerusalem were singled out for mention.

b) There were many false prophets residing in Jerusalem.

c) They had caused much “profaneness”.

d) The whole land of Judah had been tainted by their evil influence.

e) They will not go unpunished!