Recently I read something referencing Jeremiah 5:30-31: "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"
I usually take the time to look up Scripture while reading articles to make sure they aren't used out of context and I was so intrigued by what it said I set aside the article I was reading, totally captivated with what I read in Jeremiah.
What caught my attention was "A wonderful and horrible thing." They seemed to me concepts totally at odds in describing what God was speaking through Jeremiah. How could something so shocking as prophets speaking lies, priests basing their teaching and leading people based on those lies and the people taught loving to have things that way, be wonderful and horrible at the same time? Surely, those things aren't compatible. So, I started praying and digging.
Looking at Strong's and Thayer's really didn't help much; while concordances and lexicons can be a big help at times, sometimes they can be quite confusing. It was only when I began to compare translations that I all of a sudden begin realize the problem.
Usually when I start comparing translations I start with the oldest English translations I have and work up to the most recent because this sometimes helps me have a clearer picture seeing how scholars much more advanced in their studies than I am viewed the verses I'm looking at.
Wycliffe's translation reads Jeremiah 5:30-31: "Wondur and merueilouse thingis ben maad in the lond; profetis profesieden leesyng, and prestis ioieden with her hondis, and my puple louyde siche thingis. What therfor schal be don in the laste thing therof?" Instead of wonderful and horrible, it says they are wonder and marvelous. Not really any help; it still seems to me at odds with the thought.
Coverdale's says "Horrible and greuous thinges are done in the londe. The prophetes teach falsely, and the prestes folowe them, and my people hath pleasure therin. What will come therof at the last?" Seems better, at least it's now "horrible and grievous". Geneva says An horrible and filthie thing is committed in the land.The Prophets prophesie lies, and ye Priests receiue giftes in their handes, and my people delite therein. What will ye then doe in the ende thereof?" Wait! Stop! Now I get it!
I could go on -- list verses from the Bishops Bible, the authorized 1611 King James Version, the authorized King James Version we use today, Young's Literal Translation, even the King James 2000 version, and still not see my focus is in the wrong place. It doesn't matter whether it's stated as a wonderful, horrible, appalling or what -- the problem lies not in "what it's called, but in what is being done."
What is being done is those who speak for God, the prophets, are lying about what God is speaking. The priests are confirming the lying prophets in their lies and teaching the people that what is being spoken as "thus saith the Lord" is true and is to be followed, and the people who hear the lies love to have it so! WHY?
We love to have it so because it is easy to believe a Gospel that requires nothing from the people who follow it. But, Jesus did it all. Uh huh. He did, as far as salvation is concerned. There is nothing more required BUT there is MUCH more to the Christian life. Bible tells us in Luke 9:23: "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" and in Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Where I come from, this means in Ozarkian hillbillyese, "you gots ta get off your duff, get crackin' an' behave yerself an' don'ts do nuthin that gonna bring shame on yer Daddy!"
It's so easy to get so focused on one point, we miss the whole of what God is saying here "What will you do when the end comes?"
Are you ready?
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Editor's note: Charlie Newman is pastor of Avoca Christian Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected], or write in care of The Times at
[email protected] or P.O. Box 25, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.
Religion on 07/02/2014