‏ Jeremiah 23

Evangelical Predictions

This section contains both warnings and promises from God. First, God warns the leaders—called shepherds—who have failed to care for His people. Then, God gives hope to the people who have been neglected. He promises to gather them, give them good leaders, and finally send the Messiah, the perfect King and Shepherd. These verses show that God cares deeply for His people, even when human leaders fail, and that He will keep His promises through Jesus Christ, the Righteous Branch.

v. 1–2: God speaks a warning to the careless shepherds, the rulers of Judah. He says, Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! The leaders were supposed to guide, protect, and care for the people, but instead they have scattered them and not cared for their needs. Because they did not visit or help the people, God will punish them. He will hold them responsible for the harm they have done.

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v. 3–4: God promises comfort to the people who have been neglected. He says He will gather the remnant of His flock from all the countries where they have been scattered and bring them back to their land. There, they will be fruitful and increase in number. God will give them new shepherds who will truly care for them, so that they will no longer be afraid or missing. Even if the church has suffered under bad leaders, God will not let it be destroyed. He will raise up faithful leaders like Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, who will bless the people.

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v. 5–6: God promises to send the Messiah, the perfect King from David’s family. He says, Behold, the days are coming… when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5 ^a). This King will rule wisely and do what is just and right. In His days, God’s people will be saved and live in safety. His name will be called The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6 ^b). This means that Jesus, the Messiah, will be both God and the one who makes us right with God. He brings true justice and salvation to all who trust in Him (Psalm 132:17–18; Revelation 22:16 ^c).

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v. 7–8: God says that the coming salvation will be so great that people will no longer talk about the exodus from Egypt as the greatest rescue. Instead, they will say, As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where He had driven them (Jeremiah 23:8 ^d). This points to the return from Babylon, but even more to the spiritual salvation through Jesus. The glory of Christ’s kingdom is greater than all the old blessings, and God’s people will be gathered from everywhere to be part of it (Daniel 9:24–25 ^e).

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The Sins and Judgment of False Prophets

This section focuses on the deep sorrow Jeremiah feels because of the false prophets in Judah. These prophets are leading the people astray by speaking lies and encouraging evil. God is very angry with them because they claim to speak for Him, but instead, they cause people to sin even more. Their actions bring judgment not only on themselves but also on the whole land. Jeremiah warns that God will punish these false prophets and anyone who listens to their lies, urging the people to turn away from deception and return to God's true word.

v. 9: Jeremiah is deeply troubled because of the false prophets. He feels like he is drunk or overwhelmed, and his heart is broken. This is because these prophets claim to speak for the Lord, but they are actually leading people into sin. Jeremiah mourns because the land is full of adultery and lies, and the people no longer respect God’s name (Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake: I am like a drunken man... because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness,.

v. 10: The land is full of adultery and evil, and because of this, God’s curse is on it. The pastures are dried up, and everything is suffering. The prophets and priests are corrupt, and their wickedness is spreading throughout the land. God is very displeased with them (For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth... both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord, Jeremiah 23:10-11 ^f).

v. 11: Even in the temple, the prophets and priests are doing wrong. God says He has seen their wickedness even in His own house. Their actions make God’s judgment certain. He will bring disaster upon them, and they will be forced out into dark and slippery paths where they will fall and be punished (Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness... I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord, Jeremiah 23:12 ^g).

v. 12: God remembers how the prophets in Samaria led Israel astray by prophesying in the name of Baal and causing people to sin. Now, the prophets in Jerusalem are even worse, leading the people further away from God and into wickedness (I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err, Jeremiah 23:13 ^h).

v. 13: The false prophets in Jerusalem have become like Sodom and Gomorrah—completely corrupt. They encourage evil and do not turn people away from their sins. Because of their influence, the people in Jerusalem are becoming just as wicked as those ancient cities that God destroyed for their sin (They strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness, Jeremiah 23:14 ⁱ).

v. 14: God says that disaster will come upon these prophets. They will be punished and become an example to others. People will use their names as a curse when talking about evil things that happen (Therefore thus saith 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 is profaneness gone forth into all the land, Jeremiah 23:15 ^j).

v. 15: God warns the people not to listen to these false prophets. They speak visions from their own minds, not from God. They promise peace and safety to those who reject God’s word, but their words are false. Only disaster will come to those who follow them (They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace, Jeremiah 23:17 ^k).

v. 16: God says that if the people had listened to His word, they would have turned from their evil ways. The true message from God should lead people to repentance and righteousness, not make them comfortable in their sins (If they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, Jeremiah 23:22 ^l).

In summary, Jeremiah 23:9 and the following verses show Jeremiah’s deep grief over the false prophets who mislead God’s people. God is going to judge these prophets harshly, and He warns everyone to turn away from lies and follow His true word. Only by listening to God and repenting can the people hope to escape the coming judgment.

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Profaneness of the People; Reproofs and Threatenings

In this section, God addresses the disrespect and mockery of His word by the people, priests, and prophets of Judah. Instead of treating God’s messages with humility and seriousness, they turned sacred things into jokes. This behavior showed the deep spiritual corruption of the nation. God warns them about the consequences of their actions and reminds them of the seriousness of His word. This passage teaches that mocking God’s word leads to judgment, and reverence for Him is essential.

v. 33–34: The people mocked God’s words by asking, What is the burden of the Lord? They used the word "burden," which prophets often used to describe God’s serious messages, as a joke. The prophets meant it to show the weight and importance of God’s word, but the people turned it into something to laugh at. God takes this mockery seriously, saying He will punish that man and his household (Jeremiah 23:34 ^m). Making fun of God’s messages is a great sin, and God warns that He will judge anyone—prophet, priest, or common person—who perverts His word.

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v. 35–36: God tells the people to stop using this disrespectful phrase and instead speak reverently. They are instructed to ask, What has the Lord answered? And what has the Lord spoken? (Jeremiah 23:35–37 ⁿ). God’s word is holy, and it must be treated with respect. Mocking or twisting it is described as perverting the words of the living God, which is a dangerous sin. If the people remember that God is the living God, the Lord of hosts, and our God, they would not dare to treat His word lightly.

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v. 37–38: Despite God’s warning, the people continue to mockingly say, The burden of the Lord. God calls this disobedience and reminds them of His authority. He says they are bringing judgment upon themselves because of their rebellion. This is a reminder to take God’s commands seriously and not reject His authority, even in seemingly small ways like words or phrases.

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v. 39–40: God declares the punishment for their mockery and rebellion. He says, I will utterly forget you and forsake you (Jeremiah 23:39 ^o). This means He will no longer protect them or think of them as His people. The holy city of Jerusalem, which God had given to them and their ancestors, will be abandoned. They will face everlasting reproach and perpetual shame (Jeremiah 23:40 ^p). Their sin and punishment will become a lasting disgrace. God’s word will be proven true, and those who mocked it will face the consequences. This shows that God’s judgments are serious, and those who despise Him will be brought low.