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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Jeremiah 28:1-17
A new scene unfolds in the temple with the priests and all the people present. Jeremiah is there with one of the yokes which he had made round his neck. As with the girdle in Jeremiah 13:1-27 he wears it as a testimony to all Jerusalem. Here the man of God is publicly taken to task by the prophet, Hananiah, whose proud and false words completely contradict what Jeremiah is continually saying. Jeremiah’s beautiful reply bears the marks of love, truth and wisdom. It is certainly not with a glad heart that he announces the disasters which are going to befall the people whom he loves. With all his heart he wished that Hananiah could be right (v. 6). But he can not change one word of what the LORD says. He tells them the truth, no matter how distressing it is. Let us admire the wisdom of v. 9. What proves a prophecy to be true, is when it comes to pass. At the right time God would show who was right. Whilst waiting, Jeremiah does not get himself all worked up nor strive to convince them. He leaves them and goes away (cf. John 8:59; John 12:36). That is always the wisest way of putting an end to vain discussion (Proverbs 17:14).
The judgment which was announced soon falls on Hananiah (v. 15-17; read Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
