Jeremiah 28:1-17
Q.1. How did Hananiah contradict the prophecy of Jeremiah? On what basis would the priests and people know a true prophecy? What did Hananiah do to humiliate Jeremiah? – (Jer.28:1-11)
Hananiah directly contradicted the prophecy of Jeremiah. Hananiah made a prediction claiming that Babylon would be broken within two years, and all the captives and the sacred temple vessels would be brought back (Jer.28:1-4). It was the popular message that the people wanted to hear. He was on safe ground for the immediate future, as he marginalized God’s faithful prophet (c.f. 1Thes.5:1-3). Nothing much has changed in two and a half thousand years. Jeremiah wished that this prophesy would be so, but he courageously repeated the true message from God. He reminded the people that – 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 (Jer.28:9 c.f. Deut.18:20-22). Hananiah disdainfully took Jeremiah’s yoke and broke it dramatically in front of the adoring people, while claiming that Nebuchadnezzar’s power would be broken after two years (Jer.28:10-11). Jeremiah went back home on his own to an empty house.
Q.2. What message was Jeremiah to present to Hananiah? How serious was the offence of Hananiah? How would God repay the false prophet? Did Jeremiah’s prediction come to pass? – (Jer.28:12-17)
Not long after this incident, God sent Jeremiah to Hananiah with a message. By encouraging Judah to resist Babylon, you will cause the nation to come under an iron yoke and end up serving Nebuchadnezzar (Jer.28:12-14). Worse was to come, as he told the false prophet – 15 …Listen now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to die because you have counselled rebellion against the Lord (Jer.28:15-16). Hananiah died within two months (Jer.28:1 & 17). There is only one popularity that is of true value – that of being pleasing to God.