23 A God near 'am' I—an affirmation of Jehovah, And not a God afar off? 24 Is any one hidden in secret places, And I see him not? an affirmation of Jehovah, Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? An affirmation of Jehovah. 25 I have heard that which the prophets said, Who prophesy in My name falsehood, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.' 26 Till when is it in the heart of the prophets? The prophets of falsehood, Yea, prophets of the deceit of their heart, 27 Who are devising to cause My people To forget My name by their dreams, That they recount each to his neighbour, As their fathers forgot my name for Baal. 28 The prophet with whom 'is' a dream, Let him recount the dream, And he with whom 'is' My word, Let him truly speak My word. What—to the straw with the corn? An affirmation of Jehovah. 29 Is it not thus? My word 'is' as a fire, An affirmation of Jehovah. And as a hammer—it breaketh in pieces a rock. 30 Therefore, lo, I 'am' against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Stealing My words each from his neighbour. 31 Lo, I 'am' against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are making smooth their tongue, And they affirm—an affirmation. 32 Lo, I 'am' against the prophets of false dreams, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they recount them, and cause my people to err, By their falsehoods, and by their instability, And I—I have not sent them, Nor have I commanded them, And they are not at all profitable to this people, An affirmation of Jehovah.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 23:23-32
Commentary on Jeremiah 23:23-32
(Read Jeremiah 23:23-32)
Men cannot be hidden from God's all-seeing eye. Will they never see what judgments they prepare for themselves? Let them consider what a vast difference there is between these prophecies and those delivered by the true prophets of the Lord. Let them not call their foolish dreams Divine oracles. The promises of peace these prophets make are no more to be compared to God's promises than chaff to wheat. The unhumbled heart of man is like a rock; if not melted by the word of God as a fire, it will be broken to pieces by it as a hammer. How can they be long safe, or at all easy, who have a God of almighty power against them? The word of God is no smooth, lulling, deceitful message. And by its faithfulness it may certainly be distinguished from false doctrines.