Jeremiah 23  "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" This chapter is a powerful condemnation of the "shepherds" of Judah.  Prophets and priests... those who were called to lead the people according to God's Word..  had failed horrifically! "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the Lord." 

They had a greater responsibility.. so their judgement would be the greatest.. the Lord's heart was broken and His anger pours out in this message.. "For the land is full of adulterers; and the land mourns because of the curse.. for both prophet and priest are polluted; even in My house I have found their wickedness.." 

The Lord is very specific about the offensive and horrible things that He will punish them for:

They "prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray."

They committed adultery and spoke falsehoods.

They encouraged evildoers and did not turn anyone back from doing evil.

They spoke false prophesies.  They spoke of their own visions.. "of their own imagination ". 

They said that the Lord would give them peace.. even to those who were walking " in the stubbornness of his own heart."

"But who has stood in the council of the Lord, that he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and listened?" (v18)

They spoke for the Lord without hearing from Him. They proclaimed their own dreams and visions.  they "perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God." 

"But if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds. Am I a God who is near, declares the Lord, and not a God far off?  Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? declares the Lord." (v22-24) 

".. Let him who has My word speak My word in truth."  His Word, the Lord says is like "fire.. and like a hammer which shatters a rock.."  The prophets would be punished severely for their false dreams and messages that could not "furnish this people the slightest benefit." 

Let those who are shepherds.. church leaders.. teachers.. pastors.. anyone who has the responsibility to speak God's Word take heed of this passage.  God does not take lightly those who fain to speak for Him without hearing from Him! We are accountable to the One who sees and knows our hearts.. for every word that we speak for Him. 

Father, we live in a land where too many are speaking of their own dreams and visions.. false words that do not comfort and do not turn sinners back from their sins.  Forgive us Lord!  Change hearts and minds that we should come to You and stand in Your council and speak Your Word in truth.  Oh Jesus, the living Word, the Lord our righteousness,  come and reign as king.. to do justice and righteousness in the land. We pray for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done. Amen.