Why does the Lord ask, “Am I a God at hand, and not a God far away"?

This next passage (Jeremiah 23:23–32) is still very much part of the section that deals with false prophets in Judah (Jeremiah 23:9–40). However, what makes this passage unique in the section is that it exposes the distorted view these prophets had of the Lord and how this contributed to their speaking a false message in his name.

The passage begins with the Lord asking a very penetrating question that lays the foundation for everything else he says in this passage. Am I a God at hand, and not a God far away? The question has two parts to it. The first asks, Am I God at hand? The implied answer is yes. The Lord’s covenant with Israel is based on his promise that he would indeed be present with them in a very special and unique way. The temple in Jerusalem represented this presence. Israel had experienced the powerful presence of the Lord in many ways as he brought them out of Egypt, led them through the desert and gave them the land of Canaan by driving out the nations who lived there. The theology of Jeremiah’s day placed great confidence in the Lord’s promise to be with his people in Judah. Central to the message that the prophets were preaching was the fact that the Lord’s presence must, and would always, guarantee the safety of Judah. There was a great deal of truth in this message.

However, the second part of the question exposes how the prophets were distorting the Lord’s promise to be present with his people. In the second part of the question the Lord asks am I not a God far away? The answer to this question is also yes. The promise that the Lord would be present with his people must not lead them to think that he is somehow limited to or contained by the temple, as if the Lord lives only in a temple in Jerusalem made by human hands. This is the distortion in the thinking of the false prophets (Isaiah 66:1–2). The Lord’s question speaks of both his immanence and transcendence. He is the holy creator of the universe, separate from and above all he has made and yet intimately involved and present with his covenant people. The false prophets, however, are thinking of the Lord as if he is like the local gods that Judah has turned to in false worship. They are assuming his presence while ignoring his holiness. They have domesticated the Lord and limited his significance to the fortunes of Judah. This leads to a message that assures the people of the Lord’s protection even while they are being unfaithful to him.