Jeremiah Emerges into Public Ministry Unharmed and Unstopped
Swift and Fatal Judgment upon the Persecutors
How do I know that Jeremiah 24:1-10 was certainly subsequent to Jeremiah 27:1-28:17? Consider Jeremiah’s circumstances, my reader. Having finally resumed public ministry, and that, in the throes of conflict with Kings, Priests, and especially Prophets, Jeremiah remained bold and unharmed as he ministered! How? Unlike the treatment he suffered under Jehoiakim’s reign, I mean, Jeremiah was allowed to remain public, untouched! Notably, also, Jeremiah was not reprimanded by King Zedekiah even though he boldly confronted the King and his private collaborators. Why was God’s Prophet unharmed, untouched, and unreprimanded? I believe the answer to this question lies in the timing of this prophecy.
Apparently, the 3rd Captivity didn’t humble the King, his collaborators, the Priests, or the Prophets as it should have (evidenced by Jeremiah 27:1-28:17). That being the case, what hindered the rise of persecution? What stilled the violence of the authorities who suffered Jeremiah’s bold confrontations despite the fact that they weren’t humbled by the 3rd Captivity? Simply answered: God’s prop, Hananiah! Do you remember the man, Hananiah? This man, a false Prophet, was set as a TARGET of divine judgment and GOD DIDN’T MISS. Hence, I am persuaded this prophecy (Jer. 24:1-10) was delivered at least 2 months after the former prophecy because Jeremiah 28:1-17 took place in the 5th month (Jer. 28:1; August), and two months later, in October (the 7th month), Hananiah the false Prophet was slain by the LORD according to the word of God through Jeremiah (Jer. 28:16-17). The fulfillment of the death threat, “I will cast thee from off the face of the earth” (Jer. 28:16), made the lustful and ambitious false Prophets rather slow to oppose Jeremiah like Hananiah did. To watch so prominent a false Prophet die gave some pause to the persecutors! And in it (the divinely provided space to speak), Jeremiah enlarged upon the Masterplan of Salvation for the Tribulation Period! This was a glorious happening and a timely one at that, my reader. This was a gracious providence of God. He pushed back the forces of Hell to give the Prophet time to preach the unfurling of divine genius: REDEMPTION, as men had never heard or understood it before!