Jeremiah 28: Destroying False Hope
HOW DO GOD'S people handle hostility? John the Baptist told his listeners they should go the second mile. Jesus told the disciples to turn the other cheek. There is a tension here. We may be inclined to think that Christians should be doormats, giving way to the forces of hostile opposition. But that is not the point. Jesus confronted the religious leaders with their hypocrisy and called for the judgment of God on them. Matthew 23 records some of his hot rhetoric. Yet, while Jesus confronted, he didn't lead a jihad, a holy war, to destroy the opposition. He trusted God to bring judgment and justice in his way and his time.
Jeremiah's ministry was full of confrontation and hostility from the opposition. In this study it becomes physical and deadly. As we watch Jeremiah, we can learn how to trust God's guidance and power in threatening situations.
Warming Up to God
Recall an experience of being publicly confronted or embarrassed by someone. How did you respond?
Read Jeremiah 28. »
Discovering the Word
- How do you think Hananiah's message was received by the priests and people (vv. 1-4)?
- How would you characterize Jeremiah's initial response to Hananiah (vv. 5-9)?
- What test does Jeremiah give for discerning a true prophet?
- Shortly after Hananiah broke the yoke off Jeremiah's neck, the Lord gives Jeremiah a stern rebuttal for Hananiah (vv. 12-14). Why might he have waited for a period of time instead of speaking when Hananiah broke the yoke?
- What do you think those who heard the encounter between Jeremiah and Hananiah might have learned?
Applying the Word
- What insight does this incident between Jeremiah and Hananiah provide in spotting false prophets or misleading messages given by false teachers?
- The people who hear Jeremiah and Hananiah must choose who they believe is actually speaking the word of the Lord. How can you know that the words recorded in the Bible are really words from God and not merely human words of empty hopes and dreams?
Responding in Prayer
Thank God for the gifts of people and resources he has put in your life to strengthen your faith. If you have questions for God, let him know.
For Further Study
The Message of Jeremiah by Derek Kidner