“And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear” (Jer 25:4).
Israel’s preference for following false prophets (see Jer 23:9, 11, 13–16, 21, 25–26, 28, 30–31, 33–34, 37) and her refusal to listen to the true prophets led to both her first and second exile. In fact, this same verse is repeated word for word seven times in Scripture—six times in the book of Jeremiah (Jer 7:25; 25:4; 26:5; 29:19; 35:15; 44:4; see also 2 Chr 36:15). If we could ask Jeremiah what we should do in a world filled with lies and deception, I am sure he would plead with us to stop wasting so much time hanging on every word of our favorite news and social media “prophets” on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and instead begin listening to the words of the LORD’s true prophets.
If ever there was a time to wipe the dust off our Bible covers or finally press the icon of the unopened Bible App we downloaded two years ago, it is today. For in the words of Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos 4:6). And in the words of Peter the apostle:
“So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2 Pet 1:19—2:3).
