False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Hananiah’s prophecy (28:1-4) In the fourth year of Zedekiah king in Judah (597 – 586 B.C., now 593 B.C.) Hananiah a prophet From Gibeon (in Benjamin) Hananiah declares “thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel…” The yoke of Nebuchadnezzar will be broken Vessels of the temple will be returned in two years Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) will return as well Yoke of Nebuchadnezzar broken—told the people exactly what they wanted to hear and said it came from Jehovah What had Jeremiah already said?? Jer 25:12 'Then it will come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity,' says the LORD; 'and I will make it a perpetual desolation. Truth Commentary— Hananiah is telling the people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear (23:21, 22). His motive for preaching was to be popular with the people and to maintain his position of power and influence with the civil and religious leadership (5:30, 31; 8:10, 11). Furthermore, his view was the majority view, while Jeremiah was considered “demented” and out of touch with the needs of the people (cf. 29:26). Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Jeremiah’s response (28:5-9) Jeremiah said, "Amen! The Lord do so” Previous prophets had prophesied disaster. If one now prophecies peace, he will be known as a true prophet only if “it comes to pass” (cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-26) Hananiah’s rejoinder (28:10-11) He takes off Jeremiah’s yoke and breaks it (cf. 27:2) Adam Clark— Vs 9—Jeremiah’s summary— You say that Nebuchadnezzar shall not overthrow this city; and that in two years from this time, not only the sacred vessels already taken away shall be restored, but also that Jeconiah and all the Jewish captives shall be restored, and the Babylonish yoke broken, see Jer 28:2-4. Now I say that Nebuchadnezzar will come this year, and destroy this city, and lead away the rest of the people into captivity, and the rest of the sacred vessels; and that there will be no restoration of any kind till seventy years from this time. 2 Timothy 2:24-26  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,  25  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  26  and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 God speaks to Jeremiah (28:12-14) Hananiah may have broken the yoke of wood, but God would make it a yoke of iron (Deuteronomy 28:47) Jeremiah speaks to Hananiah (28:15-17) The Lord has not sent you! You make the people trust a lie! You will die because you have taught “rebellion against the Lord.” De 28:47 "Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 "therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Lessons for us: Does every preacher (teacher) preach the truth? How about those we really trust? How do we know? Do we trust a lie? Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Jeremiah writes a letter to the captives in Babylon (29:1-9) After the second siege in 597 B.C. Makes the point that God caused this captivity In opposition to Hananiah (in chapter 28), Jeremiah says, It will not be a short captivity Build houses, plant gardens, get married, and have children “that you may be increased there.” Make peace and pray for peace Don’t listen to false prophets 2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Jeremiah writes a letter to the captives in Babylon (29:10-15) Captivity will last seventy years then I (Jehovah) will cause you to return home (29:10) Daniel and Ezra both reference this promise made through Jeremiah (Daniel 9:1-2; Ezra 1:1) I have thoughts of peace for you, not evil. I want to give you a future and hope Are the promises in 29:11-13 applicable to us today? Da 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans- 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Ezr 1:1 ¶ Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. 3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Chart from Truth Commentary by John Humphries First captives taken in 606 B.C. First return in 536 B.C. Lesson 9

The Cyrus Cylinder The proclamation of the Cyrus Cylinder is reflected in the words of Ezra 1:1  “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…” Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 The captives must listen to God’s Prophets in Babylon and not the false prophets (29:15-19) Daniel and Ezekiel are there So are false prophets Don’t listen to the false prophets God is in control Look at the “I” phrases in vs 17-19 Jer 29:17 thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and [I]will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad. 18 And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth-to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 because they have not heeded My words, says the LORD, which I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; neither would you heed, says the LORD. Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Condemnation and punishment of the false prophets (29:20-32) Of false prophets Ahab and Zedekiah (29:20-23) Of false prophet Shemaiah (29:24-32) He wrote letters to Zephaniah the priest to have Jeremiah put in stocks/prison NOTE: Jeremiah was a pain to the false prophets Zephaniah read the letter to Jeremiah God said He would deal with Shemaiah and his descendants Lesson 9

False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 God is in control How long did the captivity last? Who set this time? Who knew? Who delivered them at the proper time? What promises has God made to us? Can He deliver on his promises? Lesson 9