Prophets and Priests and People--Oh My!

 

Write From My Heart / October 1, 2020 / Prophets and Priests and People—Oh My!

Jeremiah 6:13-15 (NIV)  “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the LORD.

            For background, let us keep in mind that the prophet Jeremiah wrote words of both prophecy and judgement regarding the unfaithfulness of Israel. Jeremiah carried strong warnings to Judah about their destruction. He sought to remind them of their sin and convince them to repent. The verses in today’s passage come as Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonians. So greedy for power and gain were the rogue prophets and priests of that time, that they made light of the dire situation. And this, my friends, is what caught my attention.

            You see, it is not so very different from our day in time. There is real violence occurring in our nation—it is not imaginary nor simply perceived. It is real. Select political leaders in certain cities and states of our nation are so greedy for power and gain, that they make light of the dire situation (sound familiar?). They would have us believe that the danger is “mostly peaceful” when it is enough to cause millions of dollars of damage, not to mention the destruction of peoples’ livelihood and means of support for their families. Not only this, but as in Jeremiah’s day, these political leaders have no shame for their misconduct, nor do they follow the rules they themselves impose upon others. So what is the answer? What is the solution?

            First of all, the LORD is a just God—he will not tolerate wrong-doing and in the end, final destruction is the fate of the wicked. But for his faithful people, there is mercy.

Jeremiah 7:23 (NIV)  “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.” 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.

            Dear friends, our Heavenly Father is only a prayer away!