Jeremiah 28
COMMENTARY:
: 9 The prophet which prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall some to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD has truly sent him. (7965 “peace” [shalom] means well, prosperity, health, completeness, tranquilly, contentment, or harmonious relations and freedom from disputes.)
DEVOTION: There is a conflict between the prophesy of Jeremiah and Hananiah. Jeremiah told the people that they had to give in to the king of Babylon and that they would be in the land for seventy years.
So one of them was right and the other was wrong. We know that Jeremiah was the true prophet because we read of the death of Hananiah. The children of Israel went into captivity for the seventy years because of their sins against God. They had shed innocent blood. They were worshiping false gods who required the death of their children.
Today we find that many people are giving their children to death because they don’t want to have them interrupt their lifestyle. In America and around the world we find that parents are giving up their children to worship the gods of this world. In some countries the government has ruled that parents can have only one child. If another one is born they are punished and the child is taken from them.
Also today we have many false prophets telling nations that they can have what they want and dishonor the LORD of the Bible without consequences. These are lies that have been the work of the enemy has been spreading from the beginning of time.
We need to realize that the Bible is true and what it gives as commands of the LORD need to be obeyed or there are consequences. Our nation is experiencing some of these consequences. More will be coming until the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Our responsibility is to tell all those we know the truth of the Bible and that obedience is the only way to spend eternity in heaven with the Author of the Bible. The only way to please the LORD today is to make a genuine commitment to become a follower of Jesus Christ. If our commitment is genuine, we will want to obey the commands found in the Bible. Jesus gave us an example to follow and the leader of the church in the first century gave us an example to follow.
CHALLENGE: Do we understand what it means to be a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. Good works will not allow anyone into heaven. Only a proper relationship with Jesus Christ will guaranty our place in heaven.
: 10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck and broke it. (The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: A difficult issue to face is when there is a disagreement between two leaders. It may be that both have followers and a line is drawn between followers and sides are chosen. Hananiah’s message directly contradicted Jeremiah’s prophecy. Both men were prophets and many assume priests and both were influential in Jerusalem. This caused conflict and tension between the two men and the whole priesthood.
Jeremiah simply stated the word of the Lord and allowed the Lord to prove who the true prophet was. We can also allow individuals and opponents to speak and be disrespectful when we know that the Lord is our leader and defender.
CHALLENGE: Today when adversity comes against you in the form personal attacks or hostility remember that the Lord is your shield and defender. Lean on Him for your refuge. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
:15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now , Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. (982 “trust” [batach] means be confident, sure, be bold, hope, or to feel safe.
DEVOTION: Here are two men who say they are prophesying in the name of the LORD. One is false. One is true. The people want to believe the LIE because they don’t want to face judgment. It is easier to believe a lie. Everyone wants hope that judgment will only last a short time. However, Jeremiah was speaking the truth and Hananiah was not.
There are two voices to be heard today in the church of Jesus Christ. There are the false voices. There are those who are speaking according to the Word of the LORD.
Hananiah had no problem using the name of the LORD to add credence to his prophesies. It was easier to lie than tell the people the truth. In fact, he probably thought he was speaking for the LORD.
There are many people who can convince themselves that the Bible is an old book and therefore needs to be updated. And who else should do it but someone who thinks they know the mind of the LORD. They write books explaining their new interpretations of the Bible. After all we have more knowledge today than they did back in the day of Jesus.
In fact we can look at the words of the Bible and make them say anything we want them to say. It is just a matter of a new hermeneutic. If you start reading all the books on interpretation of Scripture you can see your head start spinning.
How do we know whether what some Bible scholar is teaching is the truth? We are told to compare Scripture with Scripture because God never contradicts HIMSELF. We are also told that if the plain sense makes common sense we can believe it. If the Bible informs us that Jesus performed a miracle we can believe it because HE is God.
Jeremiah gave a test which was given back in the book of Deuteronomy regarding a true prophet and a false prophet. The true prophet is 100 % accurate.
It is always a matter of who we put our confidence in regarding the future. We need to look to the LORD for guidance. We are told that we need to “discern the spirits.” The Holy Spirit gives us guidance if we are in the presence of the LORD daily.
Many false prophets are instructing us in things that are not in the Bible. Some are predicting the end of the world with the day and hour. They are false prophets.
More people are denying the Word of God instead of believing the Word of God. It is stated that over 10% less of the people interviewed in 2000 believed in Jesus Christ than in 1990. Those who are believers are becoming less and less here in America. We are substituting false beliefs in place of the Word of God. If we try to tell the future in the name of the LORD and we don’t tell the truth – God’s judgment is upon us. One of the things we have to do today is watch who we listen to regarding the Word of God.
Our hope is only in Christ our LORD. Believe the Word of God and not men with fresh prophecies not found in the Word of God. The Bible is COMPLETE. There is all we need in the 66 books we already have at our disposal. Read it! Believe it! Tell others!!!
CHALLENGE: Don’t trust in a lie. Be a workman that needs not to be ashamed by meditating on the Word of God daily to check out those you are reading and listening to on a regular basis.
: 16 Therefore thus says the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. (1696 “taught” [debar] means you have counseled, speak, promise, declare, command, or converse.)
DEVOTION: Hananiah was a prophet of peace. He taught the people that their captivity would end in a matter of two years. He stated that he got his instructions from the LORD.
There are many individuals on the radio, television and in books who state that they are declaring the Word of the LORD. They have studied the Bible and found the answers to all the questions of the universe. If you only send in a few dollars they will send you the answers you are looking for to help you live a life of peace.
The Bible instructs us in the truth regarding the type of life we are going to live here on this earth. It will not be a life of peace. The LORD has given us a sword to share with the world.
The sword is the Word of God. HE wants us to spread it to everyone we meet. The Holy Spirit gives us guidance as to want we should say in any given circumstance. HE wants us to be dependent on HIM alone.
We can listen to others but have to check them out with what the Bible tells us is true. If someone teaches something new that has never been declared in the Word of God we need to really check them out.
Here we find Hananiah causing the people to rebel against the LORD and HIS instructions. The LORD had instructed them that they would be in captivity for seventy years. HE is a God who keeps HIS Word.
The LORD gave Jeremiah instruct to go back to Hananiah and confront him with the new prophecy the LORD had given him. This prophecy was that the LORD was going to take the life of Hananiah within the next few months.
The last verse of this chapter informs us that Hananiah did die according to the word of the LORD given by Jeremiah. When God speaks it happens.
God is going to deal with those who speak in HIS name, which is a false prophet. We can warn those around us of these false prophets without becoming someone who is known to be negative all the time. Our occupation should not be one of looking for and confronting false prophets unless the LORD gives us this instruction.
Our message should be to encourage one another in the LORD. This is to be mostly positive. Correction is needs at times but it should not be our only manner of teaching.
CHALLENGE: God wants us to lovingly work with those who are willing to listen correctly to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will help us with this type of ministry.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
House of the LORDverses 1, 3, 5, 6
Priestsverses 1, 5
LORD’S houseverses 3, 6
Vesselsverses 3, 6
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORDverse 12
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 1-6, 9, 11- 16
LORD of hostsverses 2, 14
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verses 2, 14
God of Israelverses 2, 14
I will break the yoke of the king of Babylonverse 4
Word of prophet comes to pass then LORD
truly sent himverse 9
LORD said to Jeremiah: You have broken
the yokes of wood, but you shall make
for them yokes of ironverse 13
LORD of hosts – God of Israel: I have put
A yoke of iron upon the neck of all
These nations, that they shall serve him
And I give him the beasts of the field alsoverse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar)verses 2-4, 6, 11, 14
yoke of Nebuchadnezzar broken
Carried to Babylonverses 3, 6
All nationsverse 11
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Being a false prophetverses 2-4, 11
Prophet Hananiah not sent of Godverse 15
Trusting in a lieverse 15
Teaching rebellionverse 16
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Deliverance promisedverse 4
Hear the word of the LORDverse 7
Peaceverse 9
Guidelines for a true prophetverse 9
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Zedekiah – king of Judahverse 1
Hananiah – son of Azur (prophet)verses 1, 5, 10-13, 15–17
Took yoke from Jeremiah’s neck and brake it
Spoke in presence of all the people
Taught rebellion against the LORD
Died same year in seventh month
All the people in house of the LORDverse 1
Israelverses 2, 14
Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judahverse 4
Jehoiakim – king of Judahverse 4
Judahverse 4
Captives of Judah – bring them backverse 4
Jeremiah (prophet)verses 5, 6-12, 15
Amen : the LORD do so
Went his way
Word of the LORD came to him
LORD told him to “Go and tell Hananiah
Saying: Thus says the LORD
You Hananiah had broken the yoke
From off his neck
He speaks to Hananiah the prophet
Hear now Hananiah
The LORD has not sent you but you make this people trust in a lie
LORD is going to cast Hananiah from off the face of the earth
All the peopleverse 5
Prophets before Jeremiahverse 8
Prophesied against many countries
Prophesied against great kingdoms of war, evil and pestilence
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Jeremiah predicts Hananiah is going to dieverse 16
Hananiah the false prophet dies in seventh monthverse 17
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