Jeremiah 23:18-24
The Lord reveals Himself to all who have the ears to hear and eyes to see in the scripture before us.
“For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?” (v. 18). The “who” that answers this question is not the prophets of verse 16. Jeremiah’s question involves these prophets because it is asked of them who are listening to them (the prophets).
The audience to which Jeremiah speaks has heard words which were produced by visions originating in the hearts of false prophets. These prophets have not delivered words which God has said. While verse 18 is phrased as a question, it is not a question. It is actually a plea to hear and to respond to that which God has spoken. God had spoken directly to the people through Jeremiah, saying, “Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you” (v. 16). Jeremiah is imploring God’s people to do as God has said to do.
Jeremiah’s words were applicable to his day and his words are applicable to today because believers do not do as God has said to do. God the Son spoke words given to Him by the Father. The Son has instructed us to love one another and to tell others of the Father’s love. We are often slow to obey.
In verse 19, Jeremiah declared the message that God wanted delivered. Unlike the false prophets, Jeremiah had stood in the counsel of the Lord and heard and responded to that which God spoke (see Jer. 1:2-10). The Lord wanted it known that He had unleashed a whirlwind of fury which would fall upon the head of the wicked. The head of the wicked would have been the rulers of Judah. The specific king of Judah who would be the recipient of God’s fury is not identified. Kings, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, all qualify as candidates of the wicked. All three exemplified evil and opposed the will of God.
The scriptures reveal account after account in which God withholds or delays judgment out of mercy and patience because of His desire that evil-doers come to repentance. While God would have all men repent, His purpose in informing Judah and the kings of Judah of the fury to come is apart from this desire. In verse 20, Jeremiah states that God will not delay in performing the thoughts of His heart. God wants all with ears to hear and to know that His judgment upon the head of the wicked shall be sudden, overwhelming, and total. The very individuals who heard Jeremiah speak, would witness the fulfillment of this prophecy.
“. . . in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly” (v. 20b). The words which God gave to Jeremiah were fulfilled in Jeremiah’s day. His words, however, will not receive perfect consideration by Israel until the latter days. Perfect consideration requires a power not found in men. New Testament believers have been given the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things (Jn. 14:26). The Holy Spirit empowers men to consider it (the whirlwind of God’s judgment) perfectly. Israel shall be empowered to consider in a perfect manner in the latter days — days when God shall pour out His Spirit upon them whom He has regathered. Ezekiel prophesied of the long-dead nation of Israel coming to life and receiving the Spirit of God (Ezek. 36:24-26). The prophet Joel describes the day of the outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32). The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood. It shall be a day in which whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered. New Testament believers hear the words of Joel and see the scene described when the sixth seal is opened (Rev. 6:16). Through the outpouring of the Spirit upon the 144,000 of Israel (Rev. 7:4), a multitude which no man can number shall have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and come out of great tribulation (Rev. 7:14).
New Testament believers were given power (the Holy Spirit) to perfectly consider God’s word the moment we first believed. Evidence of having received the Spirit is seen in the love believers have one for another and the desire to declare God’s love to others. The power of the Spirit shall be seen in Israel in the latter days.
In verses 21 and 22, God states that the prophets who said, “The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace” (v. 16), are prophets who have not stood in His counsel and have, consequently, caused people not to hear His words.
Verse 23 is spoken by God to them who have heard the words of the false prophets. In verse 23, God asks, “Am I a God at hand . . . and not a God afar off?” All who know God, know that He is omnipresent. The question is not addressed to New Testament believers. It is addressed to them who are uncertain. God desires that all men should know Him. All who heard Jeremiah proclaim that a whirlwind of fury would fall upon the head of the wicked would soon know with absolute certainty that God is present and is fully aware of man’s every thought and action. They would know when they saw Jehoiachin being carted off to Babylon (II Kings 24:11-14).
All men who do not know God as the ever-present God shall realize the error of their ways when they kneel in judgment before Him at the great white throne (Rev. 20:11, Isa. 45:23).
