Jeremiah 27:9
But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, 'You will not serve the king of Babylon.'
But as for you, do not listen to your prophets,

God warned Judah and the surrounding nations not to follow religious voices that promised freedom from Babylon while contradicting His revealed judgment. A prophet who speaks against God’s declared word does not become true because the message is comforting. The Lord had appointed Nebuchadnezzar’s rule for a limited season and commanded the nations to submit.

Jer 23:16-17 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen…
Deu 18:20-22 But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name…
Ezk 13:2-3 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel…

your diviners,

Diviners sought knowledge through forbidden rituals and omens rather than through the Lord. Israel was commanded not to imitate such practices, because God alone reveals what His people need to know and requires obedience rather than secret knowledge.

Deu 18:14 Though these nations, which you will dispossess,…
Ezk 21:21 For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road,…
Mic 3:6-7 Therefore night will come over you without visions…

your interpreters of dreams,

God had at times given genuine dreams to Joseph, Daniel, and other servants, but many claimed divine authority for dreams God had not given. Dreams that encouraged rebellion against God’s command were not to be trusted, regardless of how persuasive their interpreters appeared.

Jer 29:8-9 For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:…
Jer 23:25-28 I have heard the sayings of the prophets…
Deu 13:1-3 If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you…

your mediums,

Mediums claimed access to the dead and the unseen spiritual realm. The Law forbade such consultation because it turned people away from the living God and opened them to deception. Saul’s seeking of the medium at Endor showed the ruin that follows when God’s word is rejected.

Isa 8:19 When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists…
Lev 20:27 A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist…
1Sa 28:7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman”…

or your sorcerers

Sorcerers offered power, protection, and guidance through occult practices. Such activity opposed the Lord’s sovereignty and led nations deeper into idolatry. God called His people to depend upon His word instead of attempting to control circumstances through spiritual rebellion.

Isa 47:9 These two things will overtake you in a moment,…
2Ki 21:6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire…
Exo 7:11 But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians…

who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’

Their promise of independence directly denied God’s declaration that Babylon would rule the nations under Nebuchadnezzar. Refusing Babylon’s yoke would not preserve the nations but bring sword, famine, and exile. True faith required humble submission to God’s discipline, trusting that His judgment would not cancel His covenant purposes.

Jer 28:2-4 This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:…
Jer 28:10-11 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck…
2Ki 24:10-12 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and calls for repentance to the people of Judah.

2. Prophets, Diviners, Dreamers, Soothsayers, Sorcerers
These are individuals who claimed to have spiritual insight or power, often leading people away from God's true message.

3. King of Babylon
Refers to Nebuchadnezzar II, the ruler of Babylon, who was used by God as an instrument of judgment against Judah.

4. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing impending judgment and exile due to its disobedience to God.

5. Babylon
A powerful empire during Jeremiah's time, which God used to discipline His people.
Teaching Points
Discernment in Spiritual Guidance
Believers must exercise discernment in whom they listen to for spiritual guidance. Not all who claim to speak for God truly do so.

The Danger of False Prophets
False prophets can lead people away from God's will. It is crucial to test all teachings against Scripture.

Submission to God's Sovereignty
Sometimes, God uses unexpected means, like foreign powers, to accomplish His purposes. We must trust His sovereignty even when His plans are difficult to understand.

The Importance of Obedience
Obedience to God’s commands, even when they are hard, is essential for His people. Disobedience can lead to severe consequences.

Seeking God’s Word
In times of uncertainty, believers should seek God’s Word and His truth rather than relying on human wisdom or deceptive practices.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some modern equivalents of the "prophets, diviners, dreamers, soothsayers, or sorcerers" mentioned in Jeremiah 27:9, and how can we discern their influence in our lives?

2. How does the warning in Jeremiah 27:9 about false guidance relate to the New Testament teachings on false prophets and teachers?

3. In what ways can we ensure that we are listening to God’s true message rather than being swayed by popular but false teachings?

4. How does understanding God’s use of Babylon as an instrument of judgment help us trust His sovereignty in our current circumstances?

5. Reflect on a time when you faced a difficult situation. How did seeking God’s guidance through Scripture help you navigate that challenge?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
This passage warns against engaging with diviners and sorcerers, emphasizing that such practices are detestable to the Lord.

Isaiah 8:19-20
Isaiah warns against consulting mediums and spiritists, urging people to seek God’s guidance instead.

2 Kings 24:1-4
This passage describes the historical context of Babylon's rise and God's judgment on Judah, aligning with Jeremiah's warnings.
Jehovah's Consideration Towards Some Neighbors of IsraelD. Young Jeremiah 27:1-11
Divine Judgments not to be ResistedA.F. Muir Jeremiah 27:1-22
People
Ammonites, Jeconiah, Jehoiachin, Jehoiakim, Jeremiah, Josiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah, Zidon
Places
Ammon, Babylon, Jerusalem, Moab, Sidon, Tyre
Topics
Arts, Attention, Babylon, Clouds, Diviners, Dreamers, Dreams, Enchanters, Future, Hearken, Interpreters, Listen, Mediums, Observers, Prophets, Readers, Saying, Secret, Servants, Serve, Signs, Soothsayers, Sorcerers, Speak, Speaking
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 27:9

     1409   dream
     4132   demons, malevolence
     4155   divination
     4175   mediums
     5165   listening
     9130   future, the

Jeremiah 27:6-13

     8833   threats

Jeremiah 27:6-22

     5305   empires

Jeremiah 27:9-10

     4185   sorcery and magic
     7774   prophets, false
     8126   guidance, need for

Library
Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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