DCLM Daily Manna Devotional 19 November 2021 – Beware Of False Prophets

DCLM Daily Manna Devotional 19 November 2021

Topic: Beware Of False Prophets

TEXT: Jeremiah 23:9-22

Key Verse: Jeremiah 23:16
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

DCLM Daily Manna Devotional 19 November 2021

A distinguished Methodist minister preached on sin and one of his church officers afterwards came into his study to see him. He said to the minister, “Mr. Howard, we don’t want you to talk as plainly as you do about sin because if our boys and girls hear you talk so much about it, they will easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin.” Then the minister took down a small bottle and showed it to the visitor.

It was a bottle of Strychnine and was marked “poison”. He said, “I see what you want me to do. You want me to change the label. Suppose, I take off this label of ‘poison’ and put on some mild label, such as ‘essence of peppermint’, don’t you see what happens? The milder you make your label, the more dangers you make your poison”.

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The prophets and priests of Samaria and Jerusalem in our text today were unlike the Methodist pastor. They were profane and wicked. They prophesied in Baal, causing the people to err. They committed adultery and walked in lies. They strengthened the hands of evil doers such that the sinners could not repent. The false prophets and priests hindered the people from hearing God’s word, thereby hindering their return from evil (Jeremiah 23:22).

Hypocrisy and deception are the common marks of false prophets and priests in ancient times. There is always a prophet or personality waiting to contradict God’s word. These are the false prophets and preachers who are greater in number than true prophets. They will not warn the people of the doom to come but declare peace only.