“If They had Stood in My Council…”

“Thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets:
‘I will feed them with bitter food
    and give them poisoned water to drink,
for from [them]
    ungodliness has gone out into all the land.’

“’Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, “It shall be well with you”; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, “No disaster shall come upon you.”’

“For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord
    to see and to hear his word,
    or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
Behold, the storm of the Lord!
    Wrath has gone forth…

“’I did not send the prophets,
    yet they ran;
I did not speak to them,
    yet they prophesied.
But if they had stood in my council,
    they would have proclaimed my words to my people,
and turned them from their evil way,
    and from the evil of their deeds.

“’Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?  Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord…  Let him who has my word speak my word faithfully… I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another… I am against the prophets who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the Lord.’ I am against those who prophesy lying dreams and… lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:15-24,28,30-32

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

God Almighty declared strong words through His good prophet to denounce evil ones. Ungodly prophets who issued misleading visions, vain promises, and false condonations spoke to their own detriment and judgment. If only they had stood in His council, they might have stemmed the tide of mistrust and wickedness. But they sold themselves out to the father of lies and recklessly led people astray. Jeremiah also took up the mantle of proclamation, but in humble obedience to God’s call, spoke forth only His truth. (John 8:44)

We have a plethora of choices today when it comes to messages to take in and heed. In the flesh, we listen to what we agree with and want to hear, looking for approval. Ofttimes ignorant of what God says, we act on our gut, or garner opinions from those with whom we concur, and never base an opinion or align our decision with the Bible. If only we stood in God’s council, we might be assured of His perfect and pleasing will. (Romans 12:2; 2 Timothy 4:3-5)

What lies have we been believing, and repeating? What habits of reading, chatter, or media need we alter to know God’s Word better? How has His council helped us, and where do we need it today?

Lord, fix me in Your council so I believe and proclaim only Your truth.