Seek God's Words Amid False Prophesies
Scripture Passage: Jeremiah 28:1-11 (NASB)
1 Now in the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah the prophet the son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me at the house of the Lord in the sight of the priests and all the people, saying, 2 “This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I am going to bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and brought to Babylon. 4 I am also going to bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
5 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the sight of the priests and in the sight of all the people who were standing at the house of the Lord, 6 and Jeremiah the prophet said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Lord’s house and all the exiles, from Babylon to this place. 7 Yet hear now this word which I am going to speak so that you and all the people can hear it! 8 The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times also prophesied against many lands and against great kingdoms regarding war, disaster, and plague. 9 As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”
10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11 Hananiah spoke in the sight of all the people, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Even so within two full years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’” Then Jeremiah the prophet went his way.
SUMMARY
Hananiah, who is a false prophet, gives a prophecy that God will break the yoke of the king of Babylon and will return all the vessels to its place within two years. This prophecy conflicted with the prophecy made by Jeremiah previously. Jeremiah is certain that Hanaiah is a false prophet, and instead he declares the true prophecy by speaking boldly about what God is speaking.
MEDITATION AND REFLECTION
It is unclear to me why Jeremiah reacted to the false prophecy of Hananiah with "Amen" in verse 6. Was he sarcastic that it was false, or did he acknowledge the false prophecy? Regardless, Jeremiah sounds very bold on the next prophecy he gave out to the people. He is not trembled or shaken by the previous false prophecy, but instead he fully declares the message God has given him.
APPLICATION
I need the boldness of Jeremiah that no matter what circumstances I am facing, I reach out to God to receive only His answers.
PRAYER
God, I confess that I am weak and shaken by many worldly things, desires and worries. But I want to be bold like Jeremiah. Please give me a heart to only reach out and rely on your word and Spirit in my daily struggles. May those struggles become the triumphs in my life, and solely for your Kingdom. Amen.
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