Not Everyone is a Prophet Who Dreams
February 1, 2022
Commentary
God used dreams to reveal His will, and yet not every dream is God’s revelation, nor is everyone who dreams a prophet (v. 25). The dreams in this passage were designed to make Judah forget God’s name much as earlier prophets did through Baal worship (cf. v. 13). False doctrine, the deceit of one’s heart, draws people away from God and His truth just as idolatry does (vv. 26-27). God calls for honesty and faithfulness from every prophet (v. 28). God does not say a man cannot share his dream. However, God does call for a man to have enough integrity to distinguish between divine revelation and the dreams of man. God is repulsed by the man who mixes the chaff of his own dreams with the pure wheat of His word. Man’s dreams are not equal to God’s word, which burns “like a fire” and crushes “like a hammer” (v. 29).
These “prophets” did not rely entirely upon their “dreams (vv.30-32) .” They Listened to godly prophets like Jeremiah in order to steal and twist his message, and to enhance their own. When the people sought for a word from God, Jeremiah was to announce that there was none. It had already been given; and the word from God was that He would forsake them. The people were misusing His word so much by claiming divine authority that God told them not to mention the word again (vv. 33-35). Those who continued to claim divine oracles would be judged severely by God. The word “oracle” comes from a root meaning “to lift up,” and denotes a load or burden. Jeremiah uses a play on this word and its varied meanings to deliver the message of the coming judgment. The false prophets were making light of Jeremiah’s message when they inquired sarcastically about his “oracle” for the day. These people had claimed God’s authority for all the things they were saying (vv. 36-40). They said “God said this,” when God did not say it at all. They were preaching themselves, not God.
Application
I must faithfully take God’s Word and proclaim it to people without diluting it. I also want to help them to see the loving heart of God who desires to see us turn to Him.
Jeremiah 23:25– 40 (NET)
25 The Lord says, “I have heard what those prophets who are prophesying lies in my name are saying. They are saying, ‘I have had a dream! I have had a dream!’ 26 Those prophets are just prophesying lies. They are prophesying the delusions of their own minds. 27 How long will they go on plotting to make my people forget who I am through the dreams they tell one another? That is just as bad as what their ancestors did when they forgot who I am by worshiping the god Baal. 28 Let the prophet who has had a dream go ahead and tell his dream. Let the person who has received my message report that message faithfully. What is like straw cannot compare to what is like grain! I, the Lord, affirm it! 29 My message is like a fire that purges dross. It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces. I, the Lord, so affirm it! 30 So I, the Lord, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who steal messages from one another that they claim are from me. 31 I, the Lord, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who are using their own tongues to declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ 32 I, the Lord, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who dream up lies and report them. They are misleading my people with their reckless lies. I did not send them. I did not commission them. They are not helping these people at all. I, the Lord, affirm it!”
33 The Lord said to me, “Jeremiah, when one of these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, ‘What burdensome message do you have from the Lord?’ Tell them, ‘You are the burden, and I will cast you away. I, the Lord, affirm it! 34 I will punish any prophet, priest, or other person who says “The Lord’s message is burdensome.” I will punish both that person and his whole family.’”
35 So I, Jeremiah, tell you, “Each of you people should say to his friend or his relative, ‘How did the Lord answer? Or what did the Lord say?’ 36 You must no longer say that the Lord’s message is burdensome. For what is ‘burdensome’ really pertains to what a person himself says. You are misrepresenting the words of our God, the living God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 37 Each of you should merely ask the prophet, ‘What answer did the Lord give you? Or what did the Lord say?’ 38 But just suppose you continue to say, ‘The message of the Lord is burdensome.’ Here is what the Lord says will happen: ‘I sent word to you that you must not say, “The Lord’s message is burdensome.” But you used the words, “The Lord’s message is burdensome,” anyway. 39 So I will carry you far off and throw you away. I will send both you and the city I gave to you and to your ancestors out of my sight. 40 I will bring on you lasting shame and lasting disgrace that will never be forgotten!’”