Straw & Grain
October 13 Jeremiah 22:1-23:28
Object Lessons That Demand Obedience
Straw & Grain
“Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between STRAW and GRAIN.” (Jeremiah 23:28)
Today’s reading is filled with “object lesson” or “visuals” if you will.
If you grew up on a farm or ranch perhaps you know the difference between STRAW and GRAIN…
The essential difference between STRAW and GRAIN is LIFE!
GRAIN is ALIVE and full of nutrients that nourish the body.
STRAW is an empty pod used for bedding or kindling for fire. It might keep an animal comfortable, but it won’t sustain life.
Why was there no hope of redemption for God’s people except to send them into exile to humble them in hopes of restoring their spiritual life?
Basically, they were physically alive and spiritually dead!
There was no other escape for them because most of the PROPHETS who were supposed to lead them were spiritually dead, evil, hypocrites, and leading the people NOWHERE except into separation from God.
What are some of the descriptions of these false prophets?
They said, “Peace, Peace.”, but there was no PEACE. They were Inventors of truth, not true apostles, liars about God’s Ways and Words, Disguised themselves to have a “form of godliness”, condoners and promoters of IDOL worship rather than GOD.
They were not fairminded, just, or righteous. (22:3)
There is a verse that keeps coming up in the book of Jeremiah, “Stop murdering the innocent”. They were murderers!
Who were they killing and why was there no punishment?
“The kings of Judah built high places for the god Baal. They used those places to burn their sons in the fire. They burned their sons as burnt offerings to Baal, which I commanded not… (19:5)
“And they built the high places of Baal… to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech…” (32: 35)
They were so depraved that they sacrificed their own children!
Let me ask you a question, “If we do not call 'LIFE’ a ‘LIFE” is it still a “LIFE” to God?
“For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, and I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”(Ps. 139: 13-16 NIV)
They called it “CHOICE” God called it “MURDER”. They called it "WORSHIP". God called it WICKED!
They “PROSTRATED THEMSELVES” before the IDOL of intellect, Baal. God PROSTRATED THEM” by delivering them to the god they served and now they were that god’s evil slaves.
Life’s CHOICES bring Destiny’s CONSEQUENCES.
They followed their leaders right off the cliff…Perhaps we may think that this passage in the Old Testament doesn’t really apply to us today because we have Jesus. Let’s look at this passage through New Testament eyes.
The religious “prophets” of that day basically did what was socially and politically correct. They preached to “itching ears”.
Listen to what the apostle Paul had to say about false prophets, “Those men are not true apostles. They are false apostles who lie about their work and disguise themselves to look like real apostles of Christ. Well, no wonder! Even Satan can disguise himself to look like an angel of light! So, it is no great thing if his servants disguise themselves to look like servants of righteousness. In the end, they will get exactly what their actions deserve.” ( I Cor. 11: 13-15)
Buyers Beware!!! Do you know the difference between STRAW & GRAIN?
One has LIFE in it, and one does NOT!
