The Oracle of 'Deaf-I'

Aim: To hunger for God's Word; and to treasure its genuineness.

Doctrine: When everyone is a ''God''-spokesman, no one benefits. God's true Word gets diluted, and God's revelation gets hindered.

Exegesis: The way God deals with usurpers of His ministry: He withholds Himself from them (vv. 33-34); He mocks their foolishness (vv. 35-36); He punishes their disobedience (vv. 37-40).

Further application: The godly Christian's attitude toward this subject: ''I will accept God's ordained means, and I will revere the authentic Word of God.''

Key verse: v. 36 ''When one of this people, or a prophet or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of the Lord?' you shall say to them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you off, declares the Lord.'''