Jeremiah wrote letters to the children of Israel who were in exile in Babylon. His advice to them was to build houses, marry and have children and to pray for the welfare of the city where they were living. Jeremiah goes further to warn them not to listen to the prophets and diviner’s who were among them who prophesied lies.
God offered comfort to his people that he had a good plan for them. His plan was to restore them to their place of promise. God spoke concerning the false prophets that were prophesying lies to the people in his name. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall strike them down before your eyes”(Jeremiah 29:21).
Jeremiah spoke regarding God’s anger towards other prophets in the land who prophesied falsely. “therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He shall not have anyone living among this people, and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the Lord, for he has spoken rebellion against the Lord’”(Jeremiah 29:32).
God may not exact such vengeance against false prophets in this time, because we are living in grace. We however, have to be circumspect enough, to not believe every prophecy that we hear. God warns us to be discerning and to test the spirits to see whether they are of God (1 John 4:1). We also have to measure every prophecy against the knowledge of God’s word.
Furthermore, you will seldom receive a prophecy that does not relate to something that you already know, any desires that you have, an unanswered prayer or a private request to God. Even true prophets can miss God or misinterpret revelation, because everyone is human. It is important not to put anyone on a pedestal. Instead make the time to cultivate your own relationship with God, so that you are able to hear from him for yourself. More so pray for God to increase your discernment so that you can test what is good or evil.
A.P.-Y.
Devotional Inspirations 