JEREMIAH LESSON 30


     We will begin this lesson in Jeremiah 28:1 "And it came to pass
the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of
Judah, in the fourth year, [and] in the fifth month, [that] Hananiah
the son of Azur the prophet, which [was] of Gibeon, spake unto me in
the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the
people, saying,"

     Zedekiah reigned 11 years, so it could have been thought that
anything under 5 years would have been considered the beginning of his
reign. This was a gathering of priests, perhaps to discredit
Jeremiah. Notice the specific date they met. The 4th year, in the
fifth month. That time will be very important in the next few verses.
Gibeon was a city of priests. We remember that Jeremiah was the son of
a priest, as well. Since the priests and all the people were there, it
was probably a special feast day.

     Jeremiah 28:2 "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon."

     We learned in a previous lesson, that the prophets who were
prophesying good times were actually false prophets. They had not been
sent of God, but had done this on their own. Hananiah proclaimed his
message to be from God. He is bringing an exactly opposite message
than the message God gave Jeremiah. Jeremiah's message was placed in
his mouth by God. Hananiah's message came from his own will.

     Jeremiah 28:3 "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:"

     This prophecy appeals to the flesh of man. These people want to
accept this message, because it is good news. This message is that
there is no need for repentance. Jeremiah said the captivity would be
for 70 years.

     Jeremiah 28:4 "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."

     Jeconiah was the same as Jehoiakin, and he was in captivity 36
years in Babylon. This prophecy is a lie.

     Jeremiah 28:5  "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,"  Jeremiah 28:6 "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."

     "Amen" means, so be it. Jeremiah is saying, that it would be
wonderful, if this happened.

     Jeremiah 28:7 "Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak
in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;"

     Nevertheless is the key word in this verse. Jeremiah says, I hope
what you are saying is true, but God has given me a different message.
Jeremiah did not hide somewhere to give his message just to Hananiah.
He spoke his prophecy, so all could hear.

     Jeremiah 28:8 "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."

     Generally speaking, the true prophets brought warnings from God
to the people. They stood before kings with messages from God. They
spoke of the need of repentance. They spoke to priests to keep the
worship of God holy. They were messengers with warnings from God.
Jeremiah reminds all of them, that the prophets who speak of good
times are generally the false prophets. Hananiah's prophecy is not a
warning from God. He speaks of peace at a time, when the people have
been worshipping false gods. This means he is a false prophet.

     Jeremiah 28:9 "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."

     The final proof of whether a prophet is a true prophet, or not,
is whether the prophecy comes true, or not. If the LORD truly sent the
prophet, his words will come to pass.

     Jeremiah 28:10  "Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off
the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it."

     Jeremiah had been wearing the yoke on his neck to give the people
a visible sign of their captivity. Only God should have removed the
yoke from Jeremiah.

     Jeremiah 28:11 "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."

     The time table that Hananiah gave would make him a true prophet,
or a false prophet, within the two years spoken. Jeremiah left,
because he knew this was not true.

     Jeremiah 28:12  "Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah
[the prophet], after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke
from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,"

     God has something to say about all of this.

     Jeremiah 28:13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the
LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them
yokes of iron."

     The yoke of wood could be broken easily, but a yoke of iron is
not breakable. God is saying to him, you are right; the wood could not
hold him long, but the iron yoke will be hard and lasting.

     Jeremiah 28:14 "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations,
that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall
serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also."

     The power of Nebuchadnezzar is from God. He will rule with iron,
or hardness. Creator God can do whatever He chooses with His creation.
In this case, He has given these nations over to Nebuchadnezzar.

     Jeremiah 28:15  "Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the
prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou
makest this people to trust in a lie."

     To speak against a prophet of God, is a dangerous thing,  but
remember, this is God speaking through Jeremiah. Hananiah was
recognized as a prophet, but God says He did not send him. The people
have believed the lie he had told, because it was good news. It is so
strange why the public seem to believe a lie, before they will believe
the truth.

     Jeremiah 28:16 "Therefore thus saith the LORD; 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."

     Jeremiah has given him a shorter time to prove whether he is of
God, or not. Hananiah had said, within two years; now Jeremiah says
within one year. Remember, if the prophecy comes true, the prophet is
of God. God will kill Hananiah to stop him from telling lies to the
people.  He made a bad mistake, when he told the people to rebel;
against the wishes of God.

     Jeremiah 28:17 "So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the
seventh month."

     Remember earlier in this lesson, I told you to remember the
prophecy was given in the fifth month, now you know why. Hananiah dies
in the 7th month. Two months after Jeremiah prophesies of his death,
he dies. The two months are because his prophecy was about two years.
Now the people know that Jeremiah is the true prophet of God.







                         Jeremiah 30 Questions


1.  When did Hananiah speak to Jeremiah in the house of the LORD?
2.  How many years did Zedekiah reign?
3.  What did Hananiah and Jeremiah have in common?
4.  What was Hananiah prophesying?
5.  Jeremiah's message was placed in his mouth by ______.
6.  What time did Hananiah set for the return of the temple vessels?
7.  Hananiah's prophecy appeals to the __________ of man.
8.  Why do the people want to believe the message of Hananiah?
9.  Jeconiah was the same as ___________.
10. How long was he in captivity?
11. Why did Jeremiah say "Amen" to Hananiah's message?
12. What does "Amen" mean?
13. What is the key word of verse 7?
14. Who did Jeremiah speak to?
15. The prophets of old, who were true prophets, brought what kind of
    message?
16. What is the final proof of whether someone is a prophet, or not?
17. What happened to the yoke on Jeremiah's neck?
18. What did Hananiah say, the breaking of the yoke symbolized?
19. What would God replace the yoke of wood with?
20. Where had the power of Nebuchadnezzar come from?
21. What does Jeremiah accuse Hananiah of in verse 15?
22. What bad news did Jeremiah tell Hananiah?
23. When was Jeremiah's prophecy against Hananiah proven?