Jeremiah 23
BBCJeremiah 23:1
G. Prophecy of the Righteous King (23:1-8)The rulers (shepherds) are condemned for failure to care for God’s people. But God will restore a remnant of His people and give them faithful shepherds. He will raise up the Messiah to be their King. A not too popular, but necessary, caution, is given to us Christians on this passage by Kelly: It is plain this prophecy points to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. But the Messiah is the Lord Jesus not so much in relation to us as to Israel. This is important to hold fast. We do not lose by doing so. Many persons have the idea that if these prophecies are not applied to Christians and the church we lose something. Honesty is always the best policy. You cannot take something from your neighbour without losing far more than your neighbour loses. No doubt he may have a little loss, but you will have a terrible one. As this is true in natural things so much the more is it true in spiritual things. You cannot defraud Israel of one fraction of their portion, without impoverishing yourself immensely. In verse 5, the Messiah is called the Branch (or Son) of David. In Zec_3:8, He is “My servant the BRANCH.” In Zec_6:12, He is presented as “The Man . . . the Branch.” And in Isa_4:2, He is “The Branch of the Lord.” These correspond to the four ways Christ is presented in the Gospelsas King, Servant, Son of Man, and Son of God. “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” or “Jehovah-Tsidkenu” (v. 6) is one of seven compound names of Jehovah. M’Cheyne wrote an excellent hymn based on his increasing appreciation of the Lord under this title: JEHOVAH TSIDKENU The Lord Our Righteousness I once was a stranger to grace and to God, I knew not my danger, and felt not my load; Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree, Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me. I oft read with pleasure, to soothe or engage, Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page; But e’en when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree, Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me. Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll, I wept when the waters went over His soul; Yet thought not that my sins had nailed to the tree Jehovah Tsidkenu’twas nothing to me. When free grace awoke me, by light from on high, Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die; No refuge, no safety in self could I seeJehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be. My terrors all vanished before the sweet name; My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came To drink at the fountain, life-giving and freeJehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me. Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast, Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost; In Thee I shall conquer by flood and by fieldMy cable, my anchor, my breastplate and shield! Even treading the valley, the shadow of death, This watchword shall rally my faltering breath; For while from life’s fever my God sets me free, Jehovah Tsidkenu my death-song shall be. Robert Murray M’CheyneGod will be known as the One who brought the people back to the land.
Jeremiah 23:9
H. Prophecy against Judah’s False Prophets (23:9-40)23:9-22 The rest of chapter 23 is a solemn denunciation of the lying prophets, both of Israel and of Jerusalem. The latter continued to promise peace, but if they had listened to God’s Word, they would have known that His judgment was inevitable and that it would continue until the divine purposes were accomplished. They spoke without a divine commission. 23:23-29 The omnipresent and omniscient God exposes the prophets for their dreams, which led people into idolatry. Their dreams were chaff compared to God’s word, which is like nutritious wheat, and also like fire and . . . a hammer. 23:30-32 The LORD is against these lying prophets. Yates describes them well: They were professionals who claimed to be speaking with divine authority but were actually giving utterance to lies and deceit. Jeremiah hurls three charges against them. He says they were actually immoral, that they did not know God, and that they had no message for the people. They were careless of sacred responsibilities and lowered the moral standards of the people by active participation in sin. Their knowledge of God was on a low plane. Not understanding His holy nature they thought and preached that He could not desert Israel. They are still very much with us. 23:33-40 Apparently the people were mocking Jeremiah by asking “What is the burden (oracle) of the LORD?” The prophet should answer that they themselves were His burden and that He was going to cast them off. God forbade them to use the word “burden” (oracle) any more in jest. If they disobey, He will punish them severely.