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"An astonishing and horrible thing"

Text: Jeremiah 5:30

A TERRIBLE RELIGIOUS SCENARIO

The Lord revealed to Jeremiah deeper insights of the actual religious scenario in the land. Prophets and priests were supposed to be the spiritual mainstay of the country. But what if they failed miserably?

“An astonishing and horrible thing
Has been committed in the land:
The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end?”
Jeremiah 5:30-31

1. “An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land”

a) This “thing” was described candidly.

i) It was astonishing.

ii) It was horrible.

b) This was not just conjecture.

i) It had been “committed”.

ii) This worrisome problem existed in the land.

2. The prophets

a) They were supposed to have received direct messages from God:

i) Through dreams.

ii) Through visions.

iii) Through a direct word from God.

b) They were supposed to proclaim the truth.

i) They were spokesmen for God.

ii) They were servants of the Lord.

iii) They were messengers sent to bring a word from on high.

iv) They were expected to be faithful and skilful teachers of the Word of God.

c) The astonishing and horrible thing that was noted

i) They were prophesying falsely.

ii) They were not preaching the Word of God accurately.

iii) They were teaching things that were unsound and wrong!

3. The Priests

a) They were supposed to look after all Temple ministries.

b) They were to teach and lead Israel to worship God faithfully and humbly.

c) They were using religious means to rule the people.

d) They amassed power to themselves and they abused their roles as priests.

4. The People

a) The Lord’s people “loved” this scenario.

b) The prophets preached falsehood.

i) The people could not discern.

ii) They accepted as truth what was taught.

iii) They “loved it”.

c) The priests ruled the people.

i) They did not object.

ii) They accepted their rule.

iii) They “loved it”.

5. But what will you do in the end?

a) What would the end be like?

b) The people had no idea of the danger they were in.

i) They were oblivious.

ii) They were not thinking of the danger they were in.

iii) The Invaders were coming soon, and they were totally unprepared for the future!