Jeremiah 28

Part 2

By Debra Isenbletter

Vs 2: His Contradiction: In this verse we see Hananiah’s contradiction of Jeremiah’s prophecy and he presents False Credentials and preaches a False Peace.

False Credentials: Hananiah’s false credentials are seen in his opening statement, “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts...” He claims the office of a prophet the moment he says this, yet he is one that God has not sent, and he uses God’s name to deceive others (and himself). Jesus tells us that not everyone who uses the name of the Lord knows the Lord. He calls them false prophets that come in sheep’s clothing, and they are deceived because when they stand before the Righteous Judge their excuse is “Lord have we not prophesied in thy name?”

Hananiah is one of these. He uses two titles for God to reassure the people, but he uses them in a wrong way. He uses “the Lord of hosts” to show the God of the armies of heaven and he uses the name “the God of Israel” to reassure them of their relationship with God. Yet Jeremiah has already told them that “the Lord of hosts” is the Lord who also rules over the armies of Babylon and given them the power to rule over whomsoever He desires. (Jer 27:4-6), Jeremiah also presented the “God of Israel,” but he presented Him as the one who has the right to put the yoke upon them. Hananiah has taken the Word and altered it, and twisted it and presented it in a wrong way. The names of God are correct, but in connection of his prophecy they are wrong. There will be a subtlety in the lie presented in the last days so that many will be deceived.

False Peace: Hananiah’s message is that God has broken or destroyed the yoke of the king of Babylon. His message is an absolute contradiction to what Jeremiah has prophesied in chapter 27. Hananiah is preaching a false peace and giving them a false hope. This false message gives temporary relief but it doesn’t address their real problem (sin and rebellion). They need to repent. Jeremiah tells us that “they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying peace, peace.” (Jer 6-14). This is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm.

In the last days there will be this same message of false peace preached by false prophets (I Thess 5:3), the result will be that man will not be looking for judgment and when it comes it will be both quick and unexpected. Nebuchadnezzar received a warning and ignored it and judgment came suddenly. It came “while the word was in the king’s mouth,” Daniel says, “the same hour was the thing fulfilled.” (Dan 4:30-33). Belshazzar was warned of judgment and it came suddenly, so that “in that night” he was slain. (Dan 5:30). It will be the same in the last days, all because there is a False Hope and a False Peace presented by a False Prophet.

In the next two verses (vs 3-4) are seen three things that Hananiah says God will do. Hananiah says that 1) the vessels will be returned, 2) the captives will be returned and 3) the yoke will be broken. All three of these speak of a return of prosperity. His message is one that appeals to the flesh because there is no demand placed upon God’s people in order to partake of these blessings and this restoration.

Vs 3: The Vessels Returned: Hananiah says, “Within two full years will I bring again....the vessels...” He set a date for the return of these vessels. Remember that during Nebuchadnezzar’s previous two visits he had taken all the golden and silver vessels of the temple, and all that were left were those of brass (chapter 27). The priesthood that is listening to this prophecy must have rejoiced over this message, along with the people. This is what they WANTED to hear! How many today present only what the people want to hear, what they know will be accepted? Hananiah promises a complete restoration without repentance and without judgment.

Jeremiah too has promised a restoration and a return of that which was lost, but only after judgment is complete. Jeremiah has said there will be 70 years of captivity (Jer 25: 11) and when God is finished with judgment He will restore them and their vessels (Jer 27:22). There is a dangerous subtlety in Hananiah’s message because part of it is true, but the time frame he presents is wrong, and he gives no reason as to why God will return these things. Have they repented? Have they turned to God? Nothing has changed as far as their heart attitude towards the Lord. Jeremiah on the other hand has already given a reason for the 70 years of captivity, he had told them that the land needed to enjoy her Sabbaths and they had failed to let the land rest every seventh year (Lev 25:1-7). Now for all the years they neglected the land God would give the land an opportunity to rest (Lev 26:34-35; 2 Chron 36:21).

It’s interesting to note that when they said they would obey God and do all that He asked they failed, they could not obey when the Law said do, and they could not obey when the Law said don’t. So the people heard two prophecies, one that said in 70 years restoration would come and one that said in two years restoration would come. Which one would the flesh prefer? Only Jeremiah’s prophecy would be proven to be true (Ezra 1:6-1 1) and what Grace on God’s part because I don’t know of any other conquered nation who was allowed to not only return, but return with the spoils of war that had been taken from them.

Hananiah’s message that these vessels will be returned to “this place” (the temple) undermines Jeremiah’s message of repentance. Jeremiah has already told them in the previous chapter to “pray for the vessels that remain.” His message to the people was that there must be a repentance before there can be a blessing. Hananiah speaks only of blessing and prosperity, it is a message for the flesh. He preaches the vessels will be returned to “this place” and Jeremiah has said “this place” will be destroyed through judgment (Jer 26:4-6). Hananiah’s message will not bring forth godly repentance, only an ungodly walk.

The one that Hananiah blames for their loss is Nebuchadnezzar, he is the one who has looted and plundered their temple and striped them of their possessions. What they have forgotten is that God has allowed this because of their rebellion. The previous kings (Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin) had rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and because of their attitude of heart God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to come down and take something, but notice that in each instance he could only take what God allowed.

How many times do people blame others for their circumstances, and in doing so deny that they were at fault, or that they need to repent. To acknowledge that God is in control and He allowed this would be to admit that they were wrong. But here is a man who encourages their continued rebellion, whose message appeals to the flesh, and in the end whose very message will bring about their destruction. Just as Hananiah teaches rebellion against God and his servant Nebuchadnezzar, the False Prophet will teach rebellion against God and His Servant (Christ), the result of which brings forth great and terrible judgments.