Jeremiah 23

The Lord and His Sheep

1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!"^[a] [This is] the Lord's declaration.

2 "Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who shepherd My people: You have scattered My flock, banished them, and have not attended to them.^[b] I will attend to you because of your evil acts"-the Lord's declaration.

3 "I will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous.^[c]

4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them.^[d] They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any be missing." [This is] the Lord's declaration.

The Righteous Branch of David

5 "The days are coming"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"when I will raise up a righteous Branch of David.^[e] He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land.^[f]

6 In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely.^[g] This is what He will be named: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.^[h]

7 The days are coming"-the Lord's declaration-"when it will no longer be said: As the Lord lives who brought the Israelites from the land of Egypt,^[i]

8 but: As the Lord lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the other countries where I^[j] had banished them. They will dwell once more in their own land."^[k]

False Prophets Condemned

9 Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me, and all my bones tremble. I have become like a drunkard, like a man overcome by wine, because of the Lord, because of His holy words.

10 For the land is full of adulterers;^[l] the land mourns because of the curse, and the grazing lands in the wilderness have dried up. Their way of life^[m] has become evil, and their power is not rightly used

11 because both prophet and priest are ungodly, even in My house I have found their evil. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.

12 Therefore, their way will be to them like slippery paths in the gloom.^[n] They will be driven away and fall down there, for I will bring disaster on them, the year of their punishment. [This is] the Lord's declaration.

13 Among the prophets of Samaria I saw something disgusting: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.^[o]

14 Among the prophets of Jerusalem also I saw a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, and none turns his back on evil. They are all like Sodom^[p] to Me; Jerusalem's residents are like Gomorrah.

15 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says concerning the prophets: I am about to feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink,^[q] for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness^[r] has spread throughout the land.

16 This is what the Lord of Hosts says: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are making you worthless. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the Lord's mouth.

17 They keep on saying to those who despise Me: The Lord has said: You will have peace.^[s] To everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his heart they have said, No harm will come to you."

18 For who has stood in the council^[t] of the Lord to see and hear His word? Who has paid attention to His word and obeyed?

19 Look, a storm from the Lord!^[u] Wrath has gone forth, a whirling storm. It will whirl about the head of the wicked.

20 The Lord's anger will not turn back until He has completely fulfilled the purposes of His heart. In time to come you will understand it clearly.^[v]

21 I did not send these prophets, yet they ran [with a message]. I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.

22 If they had really stood in My council, they would have enabled My people to hear My words and would have turned them back from their evil ways and their evil deeds.

23 "Am I a God who is only near"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"and not a God who is far away?

24 Can a man hide himself in secret places where I cannot see him?"^[w]-the Lord's declaration. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?"^[x]-the Lord's declaration.

25 "I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in My name have said: I had a dream! I had a dream!

26 How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds?

27 Through their dreams that they tell one another, they make plans to cause My people to forget My name as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship.

28 The prophet who has [only] a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has My word should speak My word truthfully, for what is straw [compared] to grain?"-the Lord's declaration.

29 "Is not My word like fire"-the Lord's declaration-"and like a sledgehammer that pulverizes rock?

30 Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets"-the Lord's declaration-"who steal My words from each other.

31 I am against the prophets"-the Lord's declaration-"who use their own tongues to deliver an oracle.

32 I am against those who prophesy false dreams"^[y]-the Lord's declaration-"telling them and leading My people astray with their falsehoods and their boasting. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all^[z] to these people"-[this is] the Lord's declaration.

The Burden of the Lord

33 "Now when these people or a prophet or a priest asks you: What is the burden of the Lord? you will respond to them: What is the burden? I will throw you away"^[aa]-[this is] the Lord's declaration.

34 "As for the prophet, priest, or people who say: The burden of the Lord, I will punish that man and his household.

35 This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: What has the Lord answered? or What has the Lord spoken?

36 But no longer refer to^[ab] the burden of the Lord, for each man's word becomes his burden and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of Hosts, our God

37 You must say to the prophet: What has the Lord answered you? and What has the Lord spoken?

38 But if you say: The burden of the Lord, then this is what the Lord says: Because you have said, The burden of the Lord, and I specifically told you not to say, The burden of the Lord

39 I will surely forget you^[ac] and throw away from My presence both you and the city that I gave you and your fathers.

40 I will bring on you everlasting shame and humiliation^[ad] that will never be forgotten."

Jeremiah 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

The restoration of the Jews to their own land. (1-8) The wickedness of the priests and prophets of Judah, The people exhorted not to listen to false promises. (9-22) The pretenders to inspiration threatened. (23-32) Also the scoffers at true prophecy. (33-40)

Verses 1-8 Woe be to those who are set to feed God's people, but take no concern to do them good! Here is a word of comfort to the neglected sheep. Though only a remnant of God's flock is left, he will find them out, and they shall be brought to their former habitations. Christ is spoken of as a branch from David's family. He is righteous himself, and through him all his people are made righteous. Christ shall break the usurped power of Satan. All the spiritual seed of believing Abraham and praying Jacob shall be protected, and shall be saved from the guilt and dominion of sin. In the days of Christ's government in the soul, the soul dwells at ease. He is here spoken of as "the Lord our Righteousness." He is so our Righteousness as no creature could be. His obedience unto death is the justifying righteousness of believers, and their title to heavenly happiness. And their sanctification, as the source of all their personal obedience is the effect of their union with him, and of the supply of this Spirit. By this name every true believer shall call him, and call upon him. We have nothing to plead but this, Christ has died, yea, rather is risen again; and we have taken him for our Lord. This righteousness which he has wrought out to the satisfaction of law and justice, becomes ours; being a free gift given to us, through the Spirit of God, who puts it upon us, clothes us with it, enables us to lay hold upon it, and claim an interest in it. "The Lord our Righteousness" is a sweet name to a convinced sinner; to one that has felt the guilt of sin in his conscience; seen his need of that righteousness, and the worth of it. This great salvation is far more glorious than all former deliverances of his church. May our souls be gathered to Him, and be found in him.

Verses 9-22 The false prophets of Samaria had deluded the Israelites into idolatries; yet the Lord considered the false prophets of Jerusalem as guilty of more horrible wickedness, by which the people were made bold in sin. These false teachers would be compelled to suffer the most bitter part of the Lord's indignation. They made themselves believe that there was no harm in sin, and practised accordingly; then they made others believe so. Those who are resolved to go on in evil ways, will justly be given up to believe strong delusions. But which of them had received any revelation of God, or understood any thing of his word? There was a time coming when they would reflect on their folly and unbelief with remorse. The teaching and example of the true prophets led men to repentance, faith, and righteousness. The false prophets led men to rest in forms and notions, and to be quiet in their sins. Let us take heed that we do not follow unrighteousness.

Verses 23-32 Men cannot be hidden from God's all-seeing eye. Will they never see what judgments they prepare for themselves? Let them consider what a vast difference there is between these prophecies and those delivered by the true prophets of the Lord. Let them not call their foolish dreams Divine oracles. The promises of peace these prophets make are no more to be compared to God's promises than chaff to wheat. The unhumbled heart of man is like a rock; if not melted by the word of God as a fire, it will be broken to pieces by it as a hammer. How can they be long safe, or at all easy, who have a God of almighty power against them? The word of God is no smooth, lulling, deceitful message. And by its faithfulness it may certainly be distinguished from false doctrines.

Verses 33-40 Those are miserable indeed who are forsaken and forgotten of God; and men's jesting at God's judgments will not baffle them. God had taken Israel to be a people near to him, but they shall now be cast out of his presence. It is a mark of great and daring impiety for men to jest with the words of God. Every idle and profane word will add to the sinner's burden in the day of judgment, when everlasting shame will be his portion.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ps 100:3; Ezk 34:31
• [b]. Ps 8:4; Isa 23:16
• [c]. Gn 1:26-28; 9:1-7; 35:11
• [d]. Ezk 34:23; Mc 5:2-6
• [e]. Jr 33:15; Zch 3:8; 6:12
• [f]. Jr 33:15; Isa 11:1-9
• [g]. Jr 33:16; Dt 33:12
• [h]. Jr 33:16; Ps 4:1
• [i]. Jr 16:14
• [j]. LXX reads He
• [k]. Jr 16:15
• [l]. Jr 9:2; Hs 7:4; Mal 3:5
• [m]. Lit Their manner of running
• [n]. Ps 35:6; 73:18
• [o]. Jr 50:6; Pr 12:26; Isa 3:12
• [p]. Gn 13:10-13; 18:16-19:28; Isa 1:10-17
• [q]. Jr 8:14; 9:15
• [r]. Or pollution
• [s]. Jr 4:10
• [t]. Jb 15:8; Ps 25:14; 89:7
• [u]. Ps 83:15; Isa 29:6; Zch 9:14
• [v]. Jr 30:23-24
• [w]. Gn 3:8; 4:14; Jb 34:22
• [x]. Ps 139:7-12; Am 9:2-4
• [y]. Dt 18:20
• [z]. Jr 2:8,11; Isa 30:5-6
• [aa]. Jr 23:39
• [ab]. Or longer remember
• [ac]. Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg read surely lift you up
• [ad]. Jr 20:11; Ps 78:66

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 23

This chapter contains threatenings to the Jewish governors, and to their priests and prophets, on account of their manifold sins; intermixed with gracious promises to the Lord's people, and particularly with a famous promise of the Messiah. The pastors or governors of Israel are charged with scattering and driving away the Lord's flock, for which they are threatened, Jer 23:1,2; and a promise is made of the gathering of the remnant of them, and of setting up other shepherds over them, under whom they should increase, and be comfortable, Jer 23:3,4; particularly the Messiah is promised; as David's righteous Branch; as a prosperous and righteous King; as the author of righteousness to his people, under whom they should have salvation and safety, Jer 23:5,6; so that in comparison of this salvation, the deliverance out of Egypt should not be spoken of, Jer 23:7,8; and then follows a sad complaint of the priests and prophets; of their profaneness, their adultery, swearing, lying, hypocrisy, and deception of the people; for all which they are severely threatened, Jer 23:9-15; wherefore the people are exhorted not to hearken to them, promising them peace and safety; whereas, by attending to the word of God, it might easily be seen that a storm of wrath was gone forth, and was ready to break, and would fall upon the head of the wicked, to the executing of the thoughts and purposes of God's heart, Jer 23:16-20; and the Lord declares he had not sent these prophets, as might be known from their not turning the people from their evil ways, Jer 23:21,22; whose conduct and behaviour could not be hid from the sight of the Lord, nor their prophecies from his ears, which were no other than dreams, and the deceits of their own hearts; and there was as great a difference between them and the word of the Lord, as between chaff and wheat; seeing his word in his hand is of great virtue and efficacy, whereas there was none in theirs, Jer 23:23-29; wherefore the Lord declares himself to be against these prophets, for stealing his word from their neighbour; for making use of his name, when they were not sent by him; and for causing the people to err by their lies, Jer 23:30-32; and both people, priest, and prophet, are severely threatened for jeering and scoffing at the word of the Lord, calling it the burden of the Lord; which phrase they are forbid to use in a sneering way; and should they persist in it, they are told that God would forsake and forget them, and cast them out, and everlastingly punish them, Jer 23:39,40.