“For you will no longer remember the oracle of the LORD, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.” (Jeremiah 23:36).

Weeping prophet, as he was known, Jeremiah was given the unenviable task of being God’s mouthpiece against the false prophets of Israel. Many had arisen arrogantly presuming to speak the words of God on His behalf. Hear what God has to say about them:

“Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the LORD, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The LORD declares.’ “Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the LORD, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares the LORD. (Jer 23:31–32)

They use the phrase “the LORD declares” as though saying those words invokes the authority of God. It makes me think of how often Christians so easily say, “The Lord spoke to me” or “The Lord told me to do such and such,” when in reality such words are a thin veneer of spirituality to justify one’s selfish decisions or human reasoning. We need to be careful about falling into this idle talk, this Christianese use of pseudo-spiritual lingo.

In the midst of the crowded field of “prophecy” Jeremiah’s voice rang out clearly with authority when he said “the LORD declares” that those false prophets are leading God’s people astray by their falsehoods. What made Jeremiah’s declarations more potent than that of the false prophets? Very simply, he truly spoke on God’s behalf. He understood that you don’t take God lightly, for He is “the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God.” He is alive, not just a concept or a set of phrases and terminology that can be used to manipulate people. He is the commander of hosts, probably a reference to the unseen angelic armies of God. He is Yahweh (LORD); this is the one who makes declaration through Jeremiah. The false prophets make their declarations, but in the original Hebrew, it is clear those declarations are devoid of the command of Yahweh.

So what does this mean for us today? We need to be careful about idly presuming to speak on God’s behalf or using spiritual language to give vacuous authority to our assertions. We need to speak the Word of God rightly and know His truth correctly. For He is the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.

Lord, my living God, I re-commit myself to Your Word, to know it and share it.