The prophets of God during the Old Testament period were faithful men that preached the Word of the Lord without compromise. They continued to do that even though the People of God had often turned to false deities, immoralities found in other nations, and a general disregard for the Word of the Lord. The faithful prophet Isaiah wrote to God’s people “No therefore, do not be mockers…” (Isaiah 28:22). Various forms of the word “mock” are found throughout the Old and New Testaments and these usages of the word indicate the way in which the People of God often mocked.
One of the ways that God was mocked was when his messengers or the prophets were mocked. As they came preaching the Word of the Lord the Israelites belittled them, disregarded them, and made fun of them. One such example was at the fall of Jerusalem. “And the Lord God of their fathers sent warning to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets…” (2 Chronicles 36:15-16). God’ deep compassion for His people caused Him to send messengers and prophets to warn them, but instead of humbly receiving the Lord’s Word, they mocked the messengers and the message itself.
The prophet Jeremiah experienced what Isaiah, and other prophets had received at the preaching of God’s Word. “O Lord, You know, remember me and visit me and take vengeance for me on my persecutors…Your words were found and I ate them, and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart... I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, not did I rejoice, I sat alone because of Your hand…” (Jeremiah 15:15-17). Jeremiah, known as “the weeping prophet”, was often alone because he stood firm in preaching the Word of the Lord. While there many other mocking the Lord and His servants, Jeremiah as well as many of the other prophets found themselves alone.
The great chapter of faith in the book of Hebrews reveals the price of their great faith. “Still others had trial of mocking and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment” (Hebrews 11:36). The things that happened to the people of faith had often come about at the hands of “God’s people”. The Jews themselves mocked and persecuted men such as Isaiah and Jeremiah. That should not have happened among the People of God, and it should not happen among God’s people, the Lord church today. The preaching of the truth, the Word of God, should be supported by the church as Paul wrote “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground (support) of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Every member of the church and the congregation should support the preaching of the truth.
While it is true that men, and even brethren, may mock the Lord in various ways Paul gives warning concerning this. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).