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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 23

"The rulers also transgressed against Me"

Text: Jeremiah 2:8

THE FAULT OF THE LEADERS

Some are drawn to powerful leading positions of life. They imagine that therein would lie fame, fortune and power. But few realise that with positions entrusted, much is expected of them! They are to be held accountable! The leaders of ancient Israel were identified here.

“The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’
And those who handle the law did not know Me;
The rulers also transgressed against Me;
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
And walked after things that do not profit.”
Jeremiah 2:8

1. “The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’
And those who handle the law did not know Me”

a) The priests were chosen by the Lord.
i) They were called by God to serve as His priests (Exodus 28-29).
ii) They were given a covenant from the Lord (Malachi 2:1-9).
b) The ministry of the priests involved the teaching of the Scriptures.
i) They were meant to be skilled in handling the law of God.
ii) The sad reality was that they did not know the Lord personally.
c) An assessment of their ministry:
i) They were spiritually ignorant.
ii) They were not prayerful.
iii) They did not even seek the Lord in their personal life.

2. “The rulers also transgressed against Me”

a) These were the kings.
b) The princes.
c) The judges.
d) They transgressed against the Lord.
i) They were corrupt.
ii) They were unjust.
iii) They did not uphold justice.
iv) They oppressed the poor and needy.
e) An assessment of their ministry.

i) They had transgressed against the Lord.
ii) They broke the laws of God deliberately (Psalm 82).

3. “The prophets prophesied by Baal,
And walked after things that do not profit”

a) Prophets were especially raised by God.
b) He would instruct them personally.
c) Sadly, some turned their backs on the Lord.
d) Instead, they followed false prophets.
i) There were many false prophets of Baal.
ii) Some of them even served the kings of Israel.
e) An assessment of their ministry:
i) They were found wanting.
ii) They did not profit the people of God at all.