What does Jeremiah 23:37 teach about the responsibility of speaking God's word? Setting the scene • Jeremiah is confronting prophets who cloak their own ideas with the phrase “the burden of the LORD.” • God forbids this misuse and commands a new approach: ask, “What has the LORD answered you?” and “What has the LORD spoken?” (Jeremiah 23:37). Key verse “Thus you are to say to the prophet: ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ and, ‘What has the LORD spoken?’” (Jeremiah 23:37) Observations from the verse • The focus shifts from the prophet’s opinion to God’s actual, verifiable word. • Two parallel questions—“answered” and “spoken”—stress that God initiates revelation; humans receive and relay it. • The command is given to the audience, not just the prophets, making everyone responsible to insist on authentic revelation. What it teaches about responsibility • Speak only what God has truly said—no embellishment, no subtraction (cf. Revelation 22:18–19). • Submit to divine scrutiny; every claimed message must stand the test of “What has the LORD spoken?” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:21). • Personal creativity or agenda must never masquerade as prophecy; doing so “distorts the words of the living God” (Jeremiah 23:36). Cautions from related Scriptures • Deuteronomy 18:20–22—false prophets face death; accuracy is non-negotiable. • 2 Peter 1:20–21—prophecy never originated in human will but as men were “carried along by the Holy Spirit.” • James 3:1—teachers incur stricter judgment; accountability is real. Practical takeaways for today • Measure every sermon, teaching, or prophecy by Scripture’s plain meaning. • Encourage speakers to ground every claim in clear biblical text (“What has the LORD spoken?”). • Cultivate humility: God’s Word is perfect; my words are not. • When uncertain, remain silent rather than speak presumptuously; silence honors God more than speculative “burdens.” Final thought Jeremiah 23:37 calls believers to a holy reverence for God’s voice. Our duty is simple yet weighty: hear accurately, repeat faithfully, and never substitute our words for His. |
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