Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

Bible References

The idols

Genesis 31:19
While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father.
Judges 18:14
The five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their kinsmen, "Do you realize that inside these houses are an ephod, some personal idols, a carved image, and a metal image? Decide now what you want to do."
Isaiah 44:9
All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.
Isaiah 46:5
To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared!
Jeremiah 10:8
The people of those nations are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless!
Jeremiah 14:22
Do any of the worthless idols of the nations cause rain to fall? Do the skies themselves send showers? Is it not you, O Lord our God, who does this? So we put our hopes in you because you alone do all this."
Hosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without a king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred fertility pillar, without ephod or idols.
Habakkuk 2:18
What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? Why would its creator place his trust in it and make such mute, worthless things?

The diviners

Jeremiah 23:25
The Lord says, "I have heard what those prophets who are prophesying lies in my name are saying. They are saying, 'I have had a dream! I have had a dream!'
Jeremiah 27:9
So do not listen to your prophets or to those who claim to predict the future by divination, by dreams, by consulting the dead, or by practicing magic. They keep telling you, 'You do not need to be subject to the king of Babylon.'
Jeremiah 29:8
"For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, 'Do not let the prophets or those among you who claim to be able to predict the future by divination deceive you. And do not pay any attention to the dreams that you are encouraging them to dream.
Lamentations 2:14
(Nun) Your prophets saw visions for you that were worthless lies. They failed to expose your sin so as to restore your fortunes. They saw oracles for you that were worthless lies.
Ezekiel 13:6
They see delusion and their omens are a lie. They say, "the Lord declares," though the Lord has not sent them; yet they expect their word to be confirmed.
Ezekiel 21:29
while seeing false visions for you and reading lying omens for you -- to place that sword on the necks of the profane wicked, whose day has come, the time of final punishment.
Micah 3:6
Therefore night will fall, and you will receive no visions; it will grow dark, and you will no longer be able to read the omens. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn to darkness over their heads.

They comfort

Job 13:4
But you, however, are inventors of lies; all of you are worthless physicians!
Job 21:34
So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!"
Jeremiah 6:14
They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. They say, 'Everything will be all right!' But everything is not all right!
Jeremiah 8:11
They offer only superficial help for the hurt my dear people have suffered. They say, "Everything will be all right!" But everything is not all right!
Jeremiah 14:13
Then I said, "Oh, Lord God, look! The prophets are telling them that you said, 'You will not experience war or suffer famine. I will give you lasting peace and prosperity in this land.'"
Jeremiah 23:17
They continually say to those who reject what the Lord has said, 'Things will go well for you!' They say to all those who follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts, 'Nothing bad will happen to you!'
Jeremiah 28:4
I will also bring back to this place Jehoiakim's son King Jeconiah of Judah and all the exiles who were taken to Babylon.' Indeed, the Lord affirms, 'I will break the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon.'"
Jeremiah 37:19
Where now are the prophets who prophesied to you that the king of Babylon would not attack you or this land?

Therefore

Jeremiah 13:17
But if you will not pay attention to this warning, I will weep alone because of your arrogant pride. I will weep bitterly and my eyes will overflow with tears because you, the Lord's flock, will be carried into exile."
Jeremiah 50:17
"The people of Israel are like scattered sheep which lions have chased away. First the king of Assyria devoured them. Now last of all King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has gnawed their bones.
Jeremiah 51:23
I used you to smash shepherds and their flocks. I used you to smash farmers and their teams of oxen. I used you to smash governors and leaders."
Micah 2:12
I will certainly gather all of you, O Jacob, I will certainly assemble those Israelites who remain. I will bring them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in the middle of a pasture; they will be so numerous that they will make a lot of noise.

Troubled, because there

Numbers 27:17
who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that the community of the Lord may not be like sheep that have no shepherd."
1 Kings 22:17
Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the Lord said, 'They have no master. They should go home in peace.'"
Ezekiel 34:5
They were scattered because they had no shepherd, and they became food for every wild beast.
Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

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