Commentary on "Baruch: Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 3: Monday, December 20, 2010 - Jeremiah's Scribe

 

Overview

While the title for today makes it appear we are focusing on Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, the real theme is:

How does God transmit his Word to his chosen people and the world at large in the written form known as the Holy Bible?

Put another way: How do we separate the inspired written word of God from the mere commentary of man? Or more importantly, how do we recognize the lies of Satan the author of all lies?

The key text for today is Jeremiah Chapter 28 where the lies of the false prophet Hananiah are recorded.

 

Observations

On Friday we will return to this topic, but for now let’s consider Hananiah, the false prophet Jeremiah is in conflict with in Chapter 28.

Here are but a few of the passages in the Bible that make it clear how the true inspired Word of God is delivered to mankind along with how to separate fact from fiction, the true word of God from the false:

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:21 ESV)

Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: "The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God. (II Sam. 23:1-3 ESV)

Here, God makes a foundational promise to Moses concerning the results of Hebrew apostasy which has been fulfilled many times over:

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.' And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?'-- when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deut. 18:18-28 ESV)

 

Summary

1. The lesson claim that “God does not physically take control” conveys a false understanding of what inspiration is. A true prophet of God speaks as he is carried along by the Holy Spirit. The very words that come from his lips are put there by God. The very words recorded by Baruch were under the same direction as what was given to Jeremiah.
2. Any prophet who speaks in the name of the Lord and says things that are not true is a false prophet. Have nothing to do with him.
3. Since a true prophet of God only speaks the words of God and God cannot lie, none of God’s prophets will ever contradict any other of his prophets. In-other-words, no prophet of God will contradict Scripture.
4. You are commanded by God to test the words of anyone who claims to be his prophet including Ellen G. White. Since she is known to have done things such as using the words of others who were not one of God’s prophets (and lied about doing this), has made predictions concerning the future that are not true, has contradicted her own words and clearly said things that contradict Scripture, you must either reject her as a prophet or alter the biblical definition of inspiration.

 

GO TO DAY 4

 

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