Post by Deleted on May 27, 2022 14:20:15 GMT -5
The Forecaster’s Mistake By: Tim Gustafson
Click here for the Audio Message
Let the one who has my word speak it faithfully.
Jeremiah 23:28
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Jeremiah 23:16–22
At noon on 21 September, 1938, a young meteorologist warned the American Weather Bureau of two fronts forcing a hurricane northwards. But the chief of forecasting scoffed at Charles Pierce’s prediction. Surely a tropical storm wouldn’t strike so far north.
It had struck by 4:00 p.m., tossing ships onto land as homes crumbled into the sea. More than six hundred people died. Had the victims received Pierce’s warning—based on solid data and his detailed maps—they probably would have survived.
The concept of knowing whose word to heed has precedent in Scripture. In Jeremiah’s day, God warned His people against false prophets. “Do not listen [to them],” He said. “They fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:16). God said of them, “If they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people” (v. 22).
“False prophets” are still with us. ‘Experts’ dispense advice while ignoring God altogether or twisting His words to suit their purposes. But through His Word and Spirit, God has given us what we need to begin to discern the false from the true. As we gauge everything by the truth of His Word, our own words and lives will increasingly reflect that truth to others.
Reflect & Pray
What’s the standard I use when I decide whether something is true? What in my attitude needs to change toward those who disagree with me?
God, so many claim to speak for You these days. Help us learn what You really have to say. Make us sensitive to Your Spirit, not the spirit of this world.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Jeremiah 23, God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah against the "shepherds" (kings and priests, vv. 1–2) and prophets (vv. 9–40) for their continued disobedience and for leading the people astray. The shepherds were called to be godly leaders who guided and protected; instead, they'd destroyed and scattered "the sheep of [God's] pasture" (v. 1 ). And rather than speaking God's truths, the prophets "prophesied by Baal and led [God's] people Israel astray" (v. 13). They "live[d] a lie" and strengthened "the hands of evildoers" so that they didn't turn back "from their wickedness" (v. 14). God warned the people not to listen to the false prophets who weren't speaking for God and offered only "false hopes" (v. 16). Because of their refusal to listen, Judah would be exiled at the hands of the Babylonians. Yet God wouldn't forsake them forever ( vv. 3–8).
Alyson Kieda
Jeremiah 23:16-22
King James Version
16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
17 They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Click here for the Audio Message
Let the one who has my word speak it faithfully.
Jeremiah 23:28
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Jeremiah 23:16–22
At noon on 21 September, 1938, a young meteorologist warned the American Weather Bureau of two fronts forcing a hurricane northwards. But the chief of forecasting scoffed at Charles Pierce’s prediction. Surely a tropical storm wouldn’t strike so far north.
It had struck by 4:00 p.m., tossing ships onto land as homes crumbled into the sea. More than six hundred people died. Had the victims received Pierce’s warning—based on solid data and his detailed maps—they probably would have survived.
The concept of knowing whose word to heed has precedent in Scripture. In Jeremiah’s day, God warned His people against false prophets. “Do not listen [to them],” He said. “They fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:16). God said of them, “If they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people” (v. 22).
“False prophets” are still with us. ‘Experts’ dispense advice while ignoring God altogether or twisting His words to suit their purposes. But through His Word and Spirit, God has given us what we need to begin to discern the false from the true. As we gauge everything by the truth of His Word, our own words and lives will increasingly reflect that truth to others.
Reflect & Pray
What’s the standard I use when I decide whether something is true? What in my attitude needs to change toward those who disagree with me?
God, so many claim to speak for You these days. Help us learn what You really have to say. Make us sensitive to Your Spirit, not the spirit of this world.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Jeremiah 23, God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah against the "shepherds" (kings and priests, vv. 1–2) and prophets (vv. 9–40) for their continued disobedience and for leading the people astray. The shepherds were called to be godly leaders who guided and protected; instead, they'd destroyed and scattered "the sheep of [God's] pasture" (v. 1 ). And rather than speaking God's truths, the prophets "prophesied by Baal and led [God's] people Israel astray" (v. 13). They "live[d] a lie" and strengthened "the hands of evildoers" so that they didn't turn back "from their wickedness" (v. 14). God warned the people not to listen to the false prophets who weren't speaking for God and offered only "false hopes" (v. 16). Because of their refusal to listen, Judah would be exiled at the hands of the Babylonians. Yet God wouldn't forsake them forever ( vv. 3–8).
Alyson Kieda
Jeremiah 23:16-22
King James Version
16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
17 They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.