Many people claim to speak on God’s behalf. But many of those provide worthless and empty visions. The writer of Lamentations warns us about the dangers of listening to such false prophets. We need to wake up!
Scripture:
Lamentations, chapters 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation, chapter 14
Lamentations 2:13-14 (CEB):
What can I testify about you, Daughter Jerusalem? To what could I compare you? With what could I equate you? How can I comfort you, young woman daughter Zion? Your hurt is as vast as the sea. Who can heal you? Your prophets gave you worthless and empty visions. They didn’t reveal your sin so as to prevent your captivity. Instead, they showed you worthless and incorrect prophecies.
Observations – Worthless and Empty Visions
The title “Lamentations” refers to lamenting, an expression of grief or sorrow. The sorrow is for Jerusalem and the nation of Judah. Chapter 1 begins this way: “Oh, no! She sits alone, the city that was once full of people” (Lamentations 1:1). The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the city and the temple, and carried most of the people off into exile. Oh, no! Verse after verse, we see the extent of Jerusalem’s defeat:
- Judah was exiled after suffering and hard service (1:3)
- All her gates are deserted. Her priests are groaning, her young women are grieving (1:4)
- Her adversaries have become rulers (1:5)
- She lost all her glory (1:6)
- When her people fell by the enemy’s hand, there was no one to help her. Enemies saw her and laughed at her defeat (1:7)
- The enemy grabbed all her treasures (1:10)
- All her people are groaning, seeking bread (1:11)
No wonder the writer laments, “Oh, no!” How could this happen?
Your prophets gave you worthless and empty visions. They didn’t reveal your sin so as to prevent your captivity. Instead, they showed you worthless and incorrect prophecies. The people of Judah “knew” they were God’s chosen people. They assumed that God would never allow such things to happen to them, so they ignored the few true prophets and they embraced the ones who didn’t reveal your sin.Had they acknowledged their sin, they could have repented and turned back to God. But they didn’t – and they suffered the consequences.
Application – Worthless and Empty Visions
“You reap what you sow.” That’s a well-known principle; it was familiar in Bible times. “Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant” (Galatians 6:7). For hundreds of years, the people of Israel and Judah had “planted” idolatry, wickedness, and rebellion; now, they harvested their “crop.” If only there had been prophets who told them the truth! If only they had listened, and repented – things could have been different!
We need to hear that same message today. The internet gives us even more access to “prophets” who throw out “worthless and empty visions.” Some claim that Scripture is irrelevant, that “we know better now.” They say that there is no such thing as absolute truth, that truth is “whatever works for you.” Others seek to claim God’s mantle for this program or that political group, declaring themselves to be God’s man or woman of the hour.
“Make no mistake, God is not mocked.” When we claim God’s authority for things which are not from God, we take God’s name in vain. When we deny the eternal truth contained in God’s Word, we fall prey to worthless and empty visions. If we walk down the same road as ancient Judah did, we’ll end up in the same place. But there’s still hope! The writer of Lamentations tells us, “Cry out to my Lord from the heart, you wall of Daughter Zion; make your tears run down like a flood, all day and night. Don’t relax at all; don’t rest your eyes for a moment” (Lamentations 2:18). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong” (1 John 1:9). Don’t fall for worthless and empty visions!
Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding us that You have given us the truth. You have shown us the Way – Your Son, Jesus, who is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). Help us to walk in Your way, that we may reap the harvest of righteousness, rather than that of sin and rebellion. Guard us against worthless and empty visions that tell us what we think we want. Lead us to those who will speak Your truth. As we hear Your truth, help us to continually turn toward You. As Peter told Jesus, “Where would we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Amen.
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