Three Terrible and Appalling Things Before God
Introduction
A. The Divine Proclamation In the book of Jeremiah 5:30-31, God speaks through the prophet to declare that something "appalling and horrible" was taking place in the land of Judah. This was not a minor infraction or a cultural misunderstanding; it was a state of absolute spiritual emergency.
B. The Anatomy of Abomination The Hebrew word for "appalling" (shammah) carries the weight of something that causes one to gasp in horror. It communicates moral rot, spiritual filth, and a state of desolation. It wasn't just an error in judgment; it was a deep-seated spiritual decay.
C. The Triple Corruption God identifies three specific groups that had merged to create this stench in His nostrils:
1. The Prophets who spoke lies.
2. The Priests who ruled by their own authority.
3. The People who loved it that way.
D. The Consequence This collective rebellion provoked the judgment of God. Today, we must analyze these three realities to ensure we do not repeat the "terrible and appalling" mistakes of the past in our modern context.
I. Something Terrible: Prophets Who Prophesy Falsely
Jeremiah 5:31 — "The prophets prophesy lies..."
A. The True Calling of the Prophet
In the Old Testament, the prophet (nabi) was a "mouthpiece." They were called directly by God to speak exactly what was commanded—no more, no less.
• Numbers 12:6: God spoke to them through visions and dreams.
• Deuteronomy 18:18: God promised, "I will put my words in his mouth."
• Doctrinal Principle: The authority of the message depended entirely on its divine origin, not the messenger's charisma.
B. The Gravity of Distortion
Under the Mosaic Law, a false prophet was subject to the death penalty (Deuteronomy 13:1-10; 18:20-22). Why? Because to distort the Word of God is to poison the soul’s only source of life.
C. The Corruption in Jeremiah’s Day
The prophets of that era had become spiritual "yes-men."
• Jeremiah 6:13-14: They cried, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace.
• Micah 3:5, 11: They tailored their messages based on who paid them.
• Isaiah 28:7: They were physically and spiritually intoxicated, reeling while seeing visions. They traded the "burden of the Lord" for the "approval of men."
D. Application for Today
Paul warned Timothy that a time would come when people would "accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires" (2 Timothy 4:3). When a preacher softens the reality of sin or accommodates the message to fit cultural trends, it is appalling to God.
• Doctrinal Emphasis: Preaching must be faithful to the Scripture, regardless of the public's appetite.
II. Something Terrible: Priests Who Rule by Their Own Authority
Jeremiah 5:31 — "...the priests rule by their own authority..."
A. The Divine Design of the Priesthood
God intended for the priests to be the guardians of the Law and the mediators between Himself and His people (Exodus 19:6). They were to lead by the Word, not by their whim.
B. Sacerdotal Corruption
When the leaders stop following the Map (the Word), the travelers get lost.
• Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge."
• Malachi 2:6-8: The priests, who were supposed to preserve knowledge, caused many to stumble by their instruction. They ruled "by their own hands," meaning they used their positions for personal power rather than divine service.
C. Application for the Church
Today, we believe in the "Priesthood of all Believers" (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6). Every Christian has a priestly duty to represent Christ.
• A Solemn Question: Are we leading others to Christ by our example, or are we "ruling by our own authority"—living according to our own desires while wearing a religious mask? When spiritual leadership lives in open contradiction to God’s Word, it is "terrible" in His sight.
III. Something Terrible: The People Love It That Way
Jeremiah 5:31 — "...and my people love it this way."
This is perhaps the most alarming part of the text. Corruption in the pulpit is one thing, but a demand for corruption from the pews is a death knell for a nation.
A. The Rejection of Truth
The people of Judah did not want the truth; they wanted comfort.
• Isaiah 30:9-10: They literally said to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions."
• Nehemiah 9:26: They went so far as to kill the messengers who dared to admonish them.
B. The Danger of Itching Ears
The truth confronts, corrects, and transforms. Lies, however, provide temporary comfort while leading to eternal condemnation.
• Romans 16:18: Many are deceived by "smooth talk and flattery."
• 2 Timothy 4:3: People seek out what their "itching ears" want to hear.
C. The Final Question
Jeremiah ends this section with a devastating question: "But what will you do in the end?"
• John 12:48: The Word that we reject today will be the judge that condemns us on the last day.
• Doctrine of Final Judgment: God will demand an account based on His revealed Word. There will be no excuses for those who chose "pleasant lies" over "painful truths."
- Our Life is Fleeting: How Then Should We Live?
- How To Prepare for the Adversities of Evangelism: Sent as Sheep Among Wolves
- What is the Reward of Helping Others?
Conclusion
It was "appalling and horrible" to God because:
1. The Truth was Exchanged for Lies: The prophets betrayed their calling.
2. Authority was Usurped: The priests served themselves instead of God.
3. The Heart was Hardened: The people preferred a comfortable lie to a saving truth.
God is looking for a people who love the truth even when it hurts, and leaders who fear God more than they fear the opinion of the crowd.
