If these prophets had truly stood in the council of the Lord, heard his word and paid attention to it, then the message they would have declared to the people of Judah would have been, Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
This summarizes the message that Jeremiah has been preaching, but which the people have rejected, choosing to believe the false prophets who spoke of peace and protection from the Lord. The reality, however, is that the Lord will not turn back his anger until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart.
The false prophets were giving the Lord’s endorsement to the plans of the leadership of Judah, plans that ensured the people that all would be well with the nation. These, however, were not the Lord’s plans.
18 For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?