Jeremiah 28:1-17
As Jeremiah continued to make his rounds in public ministry for the duration of this year, one can only imagine what he is doing given the courageous record of his early ministry in the reign of Jehoiakim. Albeit, in the same year (at the beginning of Zedekiah’s reign), but at a later time than Jeremiah 27:1-22, we see Jeremiah with a yoke upon his neck in prophetic protest against the Kingdom of Zedekiah (Jer. 28:1, 10), and the following events unfolded: Jeremiah, wearing the yoke (Jer. 28:10), entered into the House of the LORD to prophesy in the presence of the Priests and all the people (Jer. 28:1; Note: in comparison to the events that took place in Jeremiah 27:1-22, this was a later occasion in the same year wherein Jeremiah prophesied a similar message) …and what happened?
Jeremiah 28:2-11 |
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[2] Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. [3] Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: [4] And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. |
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Hananiah’s False Prophecy #1 (2 years, the vessels & Jeconiah) |
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[5] Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD, [6] Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. [7] Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; [8] The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. [9] The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. |
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Jeremiah’s Protest |
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[10] Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it. [11] And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. |
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Hananiah’s False Prophecy #2 (2 years, Babylon Sovereignty over all Nations Vanquished)
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This time, we don’t hear much of the content of what Jeremiah said. Rather, we hear what Hananiah the son of Azur the Prophet said and did in response to Jeremiah’s bold declarations and challenges (see Jer. 27:12-22), saying, “Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the King of Babylon” (Jer. 28:2). At first, the meaning of this was interpreted in reference to the vessels of the House of the LORD and Jeconiah. Fearfully, though, the false Prophet is seen to increase in madness as the interaction proceeded! As you can see, he declared that within two years the vessels of the LORD’s House and Jeconiah would be returned (Jer. 28:3-4), and as if this wasn’t enough! Enthusiastic and in the grip of diabolical influences, Hananiah extended himself further, saying, “within two years the yoke of Babylon would be removed from ALL NATIONS”, not just Judah (Jer. 28:11)!
Not only does Hananiah say the aforementioned, but as a lying demonstration of how the LORD would break the yoke of Babylon, it was recorded, “Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and break it. And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years” (Jer. 28:10-11). Jeremiah became the false Prophet’s prop, and all we read is… “the Prophet Jeremiah went his way” (Jer. 28:11). Being exasperated by the boldness of the devil in the deranged prophecies, the humble Prophet of the LORD received no prophetic word to speak; rightfully, then, he went his way. Albeit, as Jeremiah went to his place the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Go and tell Hananiah” (Jer. 28:12-17)! Tell him what?
Because of Hananiah’s bold and outright lie that strengthened the bonds of deception among the people, God told the man the honest truth. Oh, these backwards false Prophets! Hananiah, who erroneously broke the wooden yoke and declared freedom, effectually manufactured iron yokes for an inescapable slavery (Jer. 28:13-14)! And, shockingly, because Hananiah waxed bold in falsehood insomuch that he claimed all these things would happen within 2 years, the LORD responded: “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” (Jer. 28:15-17)! The man who prophesied a False Gospel to transpire in 2 years, was killed by God Almighty in that same year! The man, Hananiah, who misapplied salvific promises that originated from Covenantal Ideals, he received a personal promise from God, the Covenant Author, on the contrary! Jeremiah said, “Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie” (Jer. 28:15). Lo, and behold, the man who thought used Jeremiah as a prop became God’s prop! God was looking, listening, seeing, responding, and prophetically retaliating! “So Hananiah the Prophet died the same year in the seventh month” (Jer. 28:17), just 2 months later (Jer. 28:1)!