Chuck Smith addresses God's complaints against the leaders and prophets in Jeremiah 22, emphasizing how the kings have exploited their positions for personal gain, leading to spiritual decline among the people. He warns that national prosperity can lead to spiritual deafness, as reliance on material wealth overshadows the need for spiritual strength. Smith critiques the prophets for scattering God's flock and delivering messages based on personal ambition rather than divine inspiration, highlighting the danger of professionalism in spiritual leadership. He calls for a return to genuine spiritual guidance, urging that true strength lies in being attuned to God's voice rather than the spirit of the age.

I. GOD'S COMPLAINT AGAINST THE KING - LEADERS. (13. A. "He had built his house with unrighteousness." 1. Used his office for own personal gain. 2. Seeking their own greatness and strength - yet weakening those who they reigned over. (2. B. "Prosperity had deafened their ear to voice of God." 1. The time of national prosperity is the time of greatest spiritual peril. 2. They trust in material things. a. The strength of a nation lies not in the strength of arms. b. To be truly strong we must be spiritual. 3. Warning of Moses. Deut. 8:12-14;17,18. a. Our own policies and skill have brought this wealth. II. GOD'S COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PASTORS - PROPHETS. (2. A. "They have scattered my flock." 1. The early church was marked by koinonia. a. Differences of opinion did not create new denominations. b. Early Corinthian attempts rebuked as mark of carnality - spiritual infancy. c. They accepted the name Christian and wore it proudly. 1. Tragedy of identifying with worldly systems. 2. Schools of prophets - shame. a. Professionalism had entered into prophetic work. (16. B. Charged with vanity - "They fool you." "They speak a vision of their own heart." 1. They were professionals. a. Their message came not of their own heart, their own observations of their day were their inspirations for prophecy. b. We are sometimes told that we need to catch the spirit of the age to be successful. 1. That might produce a crowd - doesn't change men for God. 2. Need to catch mind of Spirit of God - quality over quantity. C. They were profane - they said that "God hath said," - when God did not speak. 1. "This is the burden of Jehovah." a. True prophets forbidden this phrase. 2. Speaking with spiritual terms yet changing the meaning of the words so as to deceive. 3. Using the language of orthodoxy in a false way so as to change the meaning. Better to have no kings than kings uninspired. Better to have no prophets than prophets patronized. "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of Jehovah!" Vs.37 "What hath the Lord answered thee - what hath the Lord spoken?"