Jeremiah 23:17

They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

Jeremiah 23:17 (KJV)

Context

The book of Jeremiah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament, where the prophet Jeremiah delivers God’s messages to the people of Judah. In this chapter, Jeremiah confronts the false prophets who were misleading the people with their deceptive messages of peace and security. These prophets claimed to speak for the Lord, yet their words contradicted His true message. They were not sent by God, nor did they stand in His counsel, yet they ran with their own messages.

Meaning

The phrase “They say still unto them that despise me” refers to the false prophets’ ongoing reassurance to those who reject God and His ways. To despise the Lord is to willfully rebel against His authority and disregard His commands. The false prophets told such people, “The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace,” falsely attributing a divine promise of peace to those who had turned away from Him. They also addressed “every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart,” a phrase that describes those who follow their own stubborn desires and selfish plans rather than God’s instructions. The Hebrew word translated “imagination” conveys the idea of stubbornness or willfulness of heart, as reflected in many modern translations. To these people, the false prophets said, “No evil shall come upon you,” offering false assurance of safety without any call to repentance.

Biblical connections

The surrounding context in Jeremiah 23:16-22 contrasts these false prophets with those who truly stand in the counsel of the Lord, hearing and declaring His word. The false prophets’ message of peace was a lie because it was not based on God’s word but on the people’s own desires. This passage warns against both the false prophets who speak peace without repentance and the people who prefer to hear such comforting lies rather than the truth of God’s judgment.

Application

This verse serves as a warning to us today as well. It reminds us that there are false messages and deceptive teachings that can lead us away from God’s truth. We need to be discerning and examine every message we hear, ensuring that it aligns with the Word of God. We should not be swayed by promises of peace and security if they contradict God’s commands and principles. The false prophets’ assurances were empty and contrary to God’s true message, and the same can be true of any teaching that offers comfort without calling for obedience and repentance.

Reflection

Jeremiah 23:17 exposes the danger of false assurance. It warns against despising God and following our own desires while assuming that no evil will come upon us. As believers, we must remain vigilant, discerning truth from falsehood, and aligning our lives with God’s Word. True peace comes not from ignoring sin but from turning to God and walking in His ways.