False Prophets and Jeremiah's Letter

1. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29

2. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Hananiah’s prophecy (28:1-4) • In the fourth year of Zedekiah king in Judah (597 – 586 B.C., now 593 B.C.) • Hananiah a prophet • From Gibeon (in Benjamin) • Hananiah declares “thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel…” • The yoke of Nebuchadnezzar will be broken • Vessels of the temple will be returned in two years • Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) will return as well

3. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Jeremiah’s response (28:5-9) • Jeremiah said, "Amen! The Lord do so” • Previous prophets had prophesied disaster. If one now prophecies peace, he will be known as a true prophet only if “it comes to pass” (cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-26) Hananiah’s rejoinder (28:10-11) • He takes off Jeremiah’s yoke and breaks it (cf. 27:2)

4. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 God speaks to Jeremiah (28:12-14) • Hananiah may have broken the yoke of wood, but God would make it a yoke of iron (Deuteronomy 28:47) Jeremiah speaks to Hananiah (28:15-17) • The Lord has not sent you! • You make the people trust a lie! • You will die because you have taught “rebellion against the Lord.”

5. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Lessons for us: • Does every preacher (teacher) preach the truth? • How about those we really trust? • How do we know? • Do we trust a lie?

6. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Jeremiah writes a letter to the captives in Babylon (29:1-9) • After the second siege in 597 B.C. • Makes the point that God caused this captivity • In opposition to Hananiah (in chapter 28), Jeremiah says, • It will not be a short captivity • Build houses, plant gardens, get married, and have children “that you may be increased there.” • Make peace and pray for peace • Don’t listen to false prophets

7. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Jeremiah writes a letter to the captives in Babylon (29:10-15) • Captivity will last seventy years then I (Jehovah) will cause you to return home (29:10) • Daniel and Ezra both reference this promise made through Jeremiah (Daniel 9:1-2; Ezra 1:1) • I have thoughts of peace for you, not evil. I want to give you a future and hope • Are the promises in 29:11-13 applicable to us today?

8. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 First captives taken in 606 B.C. First return in 536 B.C.

9. The Cyrus Cylinder The proclamation of the Cyrus Cylinder is reflected in the words of Ezra 1:1“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…”

10. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 The captives must listen to God’s Prophets in Babylon and not the false prophets (29:15-19) • Daniel and Ezekiel are there • So are false prophets • Don’t listen to the false prophets • God is in control • Look at the “I” phrases in vs 17-19

11. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 Condemnation and punishment of the false prophets (29:20-32) • Of false prophets Ahab and Zedekiah (29:20-23) • Of false prophet Shemaiah (29:24-32) • He wrote letters to Zephaniah the priest to have Jeremiah put in stocks/prison • NOTE: Jeremiah was a pain to the false prophets • Zephaniah read the letter to Jeremiah • God said He would deal with Shemaiah and his descendants

12. False Prophets and Jeremiah’s Letter Jeremiah Chapters 28 & 29 • God is in control • How long did the captivity last? • Who set this time? • Who knew? • Who delivered them at the proper time? • What promises has God made to us? • Can He deliver on his promises?