False prophesies

 Jeremiah 5:13–14 (NRSV)

13The prophets are nothing but wind, for the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!
14Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: Because they have spoken this word, I am now making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them.

The prophets responsibility was to declare the word of the Lord just as they had received it. The prophets of Israel and Judah were unfaithful to declare the word and only spoke what they wanted the people to hear. They denied that judgment and captivity would be their future and declared that none of these prophecies would come to pass. We would use the phrase they were full of hot air. Nothing they declared had any basis in truth and as a result the people were led astray and continued in their rebellion. But God was making it very clear that the words spoken through Jeremiah and the other prophets who faithfully declared the word would be like a fire and would accomplish what God had spoken. God delayed his judgment in hope that the people would repent but it reached the point of no return and judgment had to be executed to save the nation from complete and total destruction. There would be years of captivity in a nation that was cruel and they would live among people they could not understand because their language was different. The lifestyle they had enjoyed in the Promised Land would be taken from them and they would become servants of another king. The delay in executing judgment does not negate the fact that it will occur. Today many people live lifestyles of sin and because there is no judgment and in fact there is approval from others, they think nothing will happen to them. Any kind of warning of judgement is denied and those who warn are considered bigots and hate mongers. They do not understand that sin has consequences and there will be a final judgment upon all of mankind to give account for their lives of disobedience to the word of God.