False Prophecy

The Drought

A poetic picture of the drought and the devastation it brings.

  • 14:5 “doe deserts her fawn” - all creation groans and travails under the judgement on man’s sin. Romans 8:21-13

Jeremiah’s prayer

  • 14:7 “for the sake of Your name” - Judah was guilty. Jeremiah appeals to God’s glory. Thinking that you will impress God with your imagined “good deeds” is foolishness.
  • 14:10 “I will remember their guilt” - you do not want to be in this position. How precious the promise of the New Covenant: “I will remember their guilt no more.” Hebrews 8:12
  • 14:11 “Do not pray for them” - again God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people - and reiterates their doom.
  • 14:13 “But God! The prophets are telling them things are ok!” - Jeremiah tries to excuse the lack of repentance.
  • 14:14 “futility and delusion of their own minds” - some of the prophets may have even believed their lies.

Judgement on false prophets and those who listen to them

  • 14:15 “by sword and famine they will meet their end” - the false prophets will be judged by the very things they denied.
  • 14:16 “and the people who listen to them” - will suffer the same fate.
  • 14:18 “travel to a land they do not know” - the coming captivity. “both prophet and priest” - Daniel and Ezekiel were both among those taken to Babylon.

Jeremiah models true repentance

  • 14:20 “We acknowledge our wickedness” - not for any works which they have done. Titus 3:5
  • 14:21 “For the sake of Your name” - again Jeremiah appeals to God’s reputation.
  • 14:22 Help us O Lord our God! You are our only hope!