How does Jeremiah 28:11 challenge us to discern true from false prophecy? Setting the Scene • Jeremiah had just delivered God’s hard word: Judah would serve Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11; 27:6–7). • Hananiah countered publicly, snapping the wooden yoke from Jeremiah’s neck and declaring a speedy liberation. • Jeremiah 28:11: “And in the presence of all the people Hananiah proclaimed, ‘This is what the LORD says: Within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’ Then the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.” Why Jeremiah Walked Away • Jeremiah recognized the crowd’s excitement yet refused to debate further. • Walking away underscored that God—not volume, popularity, or theatrics—would vindicate truth (Jeremiah 28:13–17). • The scene forces readers to weigh claims rather than charisma. Red Flags in Hananiah’s Message 1. Contradiction of previous revelation (Jeremiah 25:11; 27:8–11). 2. Appeal to immediate relief instead of repentance (cf. Isaiah 30:10). 3. Lack of moral call; the message centered on circumstances, not covenant faithfulness. God’s Built-In Tests for Prophecy • Consistency with revealed Scripture Deuteronomy 13:1–3 guards against any word that lures toward disobedience, even if signs appear. • Factual fulfillment Deuteronomy 18:21-22: “If you say in your heart, ‘How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?’—when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.” • Christ-centered fruit Matthew 7:15-16 calls for inspecting fruit, not fame. 1 John 4:1 commands testing every spirit by the confession of Jesus Christ come in the flesh. Lessons for Discernment Today • Measure every new word by the whole counsel of God (Acts 17:11). • Watch for messages that minimize sin, inflate man, or shorten God’s timetable for sanctification (2 Timothy 4:3-4). • Give prophecy time; haste is no validator. God confirmed Jeremiah when Hananiah died that same year (Jeremiah 28:17). • Seek the moral weight—true prophecy calls to repentance and obedience, not mere comfort. • Stay anchored in the written Word; it is “more sure” than any experience (2 Peter 1:19-21). Holding Fast to Truth Jeremiah 28:11 challenges believers to let Scripture, not spectacle, shape discernment. The Lord’s unchanging Word remains the plumb line by which every prophetic claim stands or falls. |
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