Just as is true for other groups, leaders of God’s people can make or break the moral character of groups that they lead. A false teacher can lead God’s people astray and a bad example brings down others with the one who practices it. This is especially risky if the members of the group haven’t fortified themselves with God’s word, and don’t have a structure of accountability that goes all the way up to their leaders. (At the same time, we shouldn’t forget righteous and faithful leaders who – even though they aren’t perfect – lead God’s people in the way that He taught them to, relying on the message of God the Father, the ministry of God the Son, and the guidance of God the Holy Spirit. They are doing exactly what God called them to.)
In the time described by the fourth chapter of the book of Lamentations, prophets and priests were sinning, and if the leaders of God’s people have gotten this corrupted, what will happen to the rest of the nation?
But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the iniquities of her priests,
who shed within her
the blood of the righteous.Lamentations 4:13 NIV
https://lamentations.bible/lamentations-4-13
Now, it appears that God’s true prophets (like Jeremiah) spoke the truth in that day, but there seem to have also been other, straying prophets, and these latter prophets got to set the narrative of what people believed. Perhaps this corrupted teaching was in what they said, what they did, or a combination of both, but the people preferred to follow the wrong messages, rather than those – like Jeremiah – who prophesied God’s judgement on a rebellious people. And, this makes sense: after all, doesn’t everyone like to hear something that tells them that everything is going to be OK? (Read 2 Timothy 4:3-4, and see if it doesn’t describe human nature!)
I know that we’re taught to not define one sin as being more or less bad than another, but these verses indicate that these leaders were shedding the blood of the righteous. I don’t know if this was killing true prophets of God, executing people who tried to stand up for the truth, or failing to provide justice for those who were oppressed (and were hurt as a result). Or, maybe they were doing other things, but this sounds like a “pretty bad” sin.
Now, per verse 14, they – either the prophets and priests, or the people in general – are defiled by blood (probably blood that they had shed, I suppose) and others don’t want to have anything to do with them. That’s not all of their punishment, though. As verses 15-16 indicates, even other nations won’t welcome them in. Even more than that, verses 17-20 confirms that there’s nowhere to run. No one was going to save them from this destruction.
Remember that God had not just “sprung” this punishment upon His people. God was clear about what their holiness as a chosen people needed to look like, and He sent prophets to warn them when they went astray. God loved His people back then, as He loves us, and even today, if we are willing to listen honestly to Him, the consequences of ongoing, deep-rooted sin should not come as a surprise to us.
God also offers a chance at repentance (see Jeremiah 18:5-10), for those who have walked the path of sin but wish to turn away from the mess they’ve got themselves into, and turn back to Him. I understand that God must exact justice, but I’m certainly glad that He also offered mercy to you and to me. If the people you’re following and listening to are telling you any different, separate yourself from them and get back to God’s own Word before it’s too late.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 7, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, May 7, 2023, © 2023 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Jeremiah-Lamentations, by Timothy M. Willis. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 