Opposition

Jeremiah 28:1–4 ESV

In that same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the Lord, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

Opening Prayer

Word of God is Challenged.

Jeremiah 28:2 ESV

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

(Backstory: Chapter 27:1)

God tells Jeremiah to make straps & yoke-bars and hang them around his neck.

Speak an envoy that was in Jerusalem.

Why the envoy? Talking about overthrowing Nebuchadnezzer.

God said: Don’t even try it! Everyone needs to place themselves under Nebuchadnezzer until God’s time for him is over.

Now (in that same year) Hananiah says: “God has now broken that yoke.”

Hananiah’s message is certainly appealing but notice some “red flags”.

Claims God’s mercy without the need for repentance.

Hananiah’s message is appealing.

Ok God made His point. (Thank you Jeremiah for bringing this to our attention)

But now God is going to make everything right again.

But all of their trials are SO GOD CAN GET THEM TO SEE what they have become.

There is no mention for the people to stop sinful lifestyles.

Hananiah is appealing to the room.

They desire peace but not truth!

Responding to the opposition.

Jeremiah 28:5–6 ESV

Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord, and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles.

“Amen! May the Lord do so.”

Hananiah is appealing to a room who just desires peace.

Jeremiah doesn’t “get in the ring” with him.

Verses 7-8: It would be great is what you say is true, but listen…

I have something important to say to you and all these people who have heard your message.

Jeremiah 28:9 ESV

As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”

This seems like a fair meeting ground.

“I guess we will see who is correct here.”

This was actually a common practice for testing a TRUE PROPHET.

What was Hananiah thinking to give this word that contradicts the one Jeremiah gave?

Many issues concerning God are handled exactly that way.

Creation, or even the existence of God

Who Jesus was and is.

What will happen when this world ends. (will this world end)

We will all find out the truth, but it might be too late to avoid the consequences.

Hananiah Doubles Down...

Jeremiah 28:10 ESV

Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke-bars from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke them.

Wow! can you imagine the audacity?

People have already been exiled! Jeremiah’s prophesies have been coming true.

As if Hananiah was trying so desperately to win the room over, he felt the need for this grand gesture to seal the deal.

People have alway been willing to go the extra mile to try to prove God’s word false. Or at least to prove Christian’s to be out of touch.

Opposition is silenced.

Jeremiah 28:13 ESV

“Go, tell Hananiah, ‘Thus says the Lord: You have broken wooden bars, but you have made in their place bars of iron.

It would seem that Hananiah was able to persuade the people.

The rest of Jeremiah would show that to be true.

There is a great warning here for those who would give or listen to a belief just because it easier to follow!

This is true for those claiming to speak the truth or those who follow them.

It may not be easy to live for God, but it will be based on truth and that will lead to peace.

Jeremiah spoke God truth and it was highly offensive to some people, ignored to reject by others..

Those Christians are stuck on this doom and gloom. God’s grace is sufficient. Stop worrying so much about how you live.

*Ultimately we will all be left with the truth.

*This is ultimately God’s fight. However, we need to make sure we are on the right side.

*We are faced with a growing opposition that says:

(1) There is not God so live accordingly.

(2) God is loving so don’t worry about how you live.

Closing Prayer