Who can you trust these days? It doesn't take a cynic to realize that there are so many voices claiming that they speak for God, that you almost don't want to believe any of them. Come to think of it, maybe that's a big part of our modern world, too many prophets, not enough truth.

There are at least two very interesting texts in this chapter. The first one starts in vs. 11;

¹¹ Then the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for the well-being of this people. ¹² Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague." ¹³But I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, 'You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.' "

I don't know if this is the first place in the Bible where God does not want a leader to pray for His people, but it sure feels like it. How do you reconcile such a command? I don't know to be perfectly candid. Could it be that Israel is no longer His people? Their downfall has not come yet, at least the physical calamity has not happened.  And yet, they have left God spiritually. It might be a question of who left who. Remember the divorce decree earlier in Jeremiah? This still feels like the divorce is not final, but it is in that period where uncertainty rules. Often after a separation, there is an intense period of pulling apart and heightened anxiety about the future. Sadly, its often very messy.

And the amount of advice at that time is like the amount of marriage counseling that one receives when it is too late. I've counseled with a number of couples over the years when they were near the end of their rope you could say. It is not impossible to help them turn things around, but it doesn't happen very often. And one or the other, usually the most anxious of the two goes looking for opinions on how to keep the marriage together. Too often, this means how do I change my spouse to see things my way or do things my way. That one sentence alone is worth the price of admission to marriage.

People do change, but only when they want to. Pain is a major change factor. It either drives you deeper into the relationship or further away from the relationship. This passage reminds me of Jesus and how he treated he woman with an issue of blood. Her life was in some kind of pain, certainly emotional pain. But for a few minutes, Jesus tried to ignore her. I think He knew all about her, but He made her pursue healing and she wanted it badly enough that He finally relented. She knew what she wanted, Jesus was convinced of what she wanted and He healed her, even though she was a foreigner.

Israel is about to become a foreigner it seems. And yet there is still a chance that they can change. They can't change God, but they can change. Do they hurt badly enough to ask God to change them or do they simply want to be fed and protected as vs 13 implies.

It might be a question of gratitude. We love and appreciate what we show gratitude for. Israel had no gratitude to share with God. This topic deserves far more discussion so we'll hold it off for another time.

The other text starts in 13 and goes through 16. There are prophets who are not telling the truth. If that doesn't drive you crazy, what will? Who can you trust anymore? How do we know we can trust Jeremiah for that matter? This is a tough question as well. We want to trust someone. They are prophesying in God's name, but using the techniques of other god's, false god's. Slapping a badge on your jacket saying I am a prophet of God does not make you a prophet of God, does it?

When things are bad all around you, famine in the land, distrust in the community, self interest reigns instead of community care, you know something is deeply wrong, both spiritually and emotionally. When humans become black holes of self interest, God is not near. And saying He is is not a cure. It is a lie. A very damaging lie.

 ¹⁴ Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries ^[a] and the delusions of their own minds. ¹⁵ Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, 'No sword or famine will touch this land.' Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. ¹⁶ And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.

Spiritual maturity, spiritual growth is the underlying factor here. The physical famine is similar to the spiritual famine. God showers us with grace and we grow in that grace. The famine of gracefulness in the treatment of others is the result of a failure to appropriate that grace for ourselves. No prophet, pastor, preacher, teacher or leader is doing anyone any good when they say everything is ok, when it most certainly is not. Knowing the difference is classic spiritual leadership. Knowing how to stay connected to God, not divorced is classic Christianity.

Who can you trust? God for starters. Who you trust from there depends. Depends on whose telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And the truth in Israel's case is that things are badder than bad. Really bad. It takes courage to speak that word of truth. Jeremiah has a courage born of faith. That's why he tells the truth. And the deep truth is this, the relationship is broken. The hopeful truth is that it can be restored, but only by a return to two way love. God loves us and we love God. When the truth is told, That is the truth. That's the only way this is going to work.

Drought, Famine, Sword

 ¹ This is the word of the LORD to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

 ² "Judah mourns,
       her cities languish;
       they wail for the land,
       and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.

 ³ The nobles send their servants for water;
       they go to the cisterns
       but find no water.
       They return with their jars unfilled;
       dismayed and despairing,
       they cover their heads.

 ⁴ The ground is cracked
       because there is no rain in the land;
       the farmers are dismayed
       and cover their heads.

 ⁵ Even the doe in the field
       deserts her newborn fawn
       because there is no grass.

 ⁶ Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights
       and pant like jackals;
       their eyesight fails
       for lack of pasture."

 ⁷ Although our sins testify against us,
       O LORD, do something for the sake of your name.
       For our backsliding is great;
       we have sinned against you.

 ⁸ O Hope of Israel,
       its Savior in times of distress,
       why are you like a stranger in the land,
       like a traveler who stays only a night?

 ⁹ Why are you like a man taken by surprise,
       like a warrior powerless to save?
       You are among us, O LORD,
       and we bear your name;
       do not forsake us!

 ¹⁰ This is what the LORD says about this people:
       "They greatly love to wander;
       they do not restrain their feet.
       So the LORD does not accept them;
       he will now remember their wickedness
       and punish them for their sins."

 ¹¹ Then the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for the well-being of this people. ¹² Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague." ¹³ But I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, 'You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.' "

 ¹⁴ Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries ^[a] and the delusions of their own minds. ¹⁵ Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, 'No sword or famine will touch this land.' Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. ¹⁶ And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.

 ¹⁷ "Speak this word to them:
       " 'Let my eyes overflow with tears
       night and day without ceasing;
       for my virgin daughter—my people—
       has suffered a grievous wound,
       a crushing blow.

 ¹⁸ If I go into the country,
       I see those slain by the sword;
       if I go into the city,
       I see the ravages of famine.
       Both prophet and priest
       have gone to a land they know not.' "

 ¹⁹ Have you rejected Judah completely?
       Do you despise Zion?
       Why have you afflicted us
       so that we cannot be healed?
       We hoped for peace
       but no good has come,
       for a time of healing
       but there is only terror.

 ²⁰ O LORD, we acknowledge our wickedness
       and the guilt of our fathers;
       we have indeed sinned against you.

 ²¹ For the sake of your name do not despise us;
       do not dishonor your glorious throne.
       Remember your covenant with us
       and do not break it.

 ²² Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?
       Do the skies themselves send down showers?
       No, it is you, O LORD our God.
       Therefore our hope is in you,
       for you are the one who does all this.