10.30.2015 Old Testament: Jer 28.4

To read the Bible in a year, read Jeremiah 27–28 on October 30, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

Jeremiah 28 begins with the words of a false prophet. He spoke what the people wanted to hear, although they were at that time suffering for their refusal to hear the true prophets of the Lord. They had not learned their lesson, and so they listened to this man. The last part of his prophecy, in which he claimed to be quoting the Lord, said,

“‘And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon’” (Jeremiah 28.4). 

Even Jeremiah wanted to believe the words of this prophet (v. 6), although he suspected that the man spoke falsely (vv. 7–9). Then the Lord told Jeremiah that Hananiah was a false prophet.

When you hear a preacher, and you like what he says, ask yourself if it is because he speaks God’s word, or is it because he speaks what you want to hear.