Lying Prophets
Jeremiah reels with grief over the prophets because the land is full of adulterers and corruption, and both priest and prophet are ungodly. The LORD says the prophets of Jerusalem are worse than those of Samaria because they practice adultery, walk in lies, and strengthen the hands of evildoers; therefore bitterness and poisoned water await them as judgment.
A9s for the prophets: 10For the land is full of adulterers — 11“For both prophet and priest are ungodly; 12“Therefore their path will become slick; 13“Among the prophets of Samaria 14And among the prophets of Jerusalem 15Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets:
The people are warned not to listen to prophets who fill them with vain hopes and promise peace to those who despise the LORD. None of these prophets has truly stood in His council; His storm and anger are already moving against the wicked, and if they had really heard Him they would have turned the people from evil instead of reinforcing rebellion.
16This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 17They keep saying to those who despise Me, 18But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD 19Behold, the storm of the LORD 20The anger of the LORD will not turn back 21I did not send these prophets, 22But if they had stood in My council,
The LORD reminds them that He is not merely local but fills heaven and earth, so no liar can hide from Him. He has heard the dreamers who hope to make His people forget His name; dreams may be retold as dreams, but the one who has the LORD's word must speak it faithfully, because His word is grain rather than straw, like fire and like a hammer that shatters rock.
23“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?” 24“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. 25“I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26How long will this continue in the hearts of these prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the delusion of their own minds? 27They suppose the dreams that they tell one another will make My people forget My name, just as their fathers forgot My name through the worship of Baal. 28Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD. 29“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?”
The LORD declares Himself against prophets who steal words from one another, proclaim their own speech as divine, and mislead the people with false dreams. They were not sent by Him and bring no benefit at all to the people.
30“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.” 31“Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’” 32“Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD.