June 3rd, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Prophetic Falsehood

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Opening Prayer

Gracious Lord, let Your healing light shine on me today. Grant me wholeness; body, mind, and soul.

Read JEREMIAH 28:1-17

[1] In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people: [2] “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. [3] Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. [4] I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'” [5] Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD. [6] He said, “Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the LORD’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. [7] Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: [8] From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms. [9] But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true.” [10] Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, [11] and he said before all the people, “This is what the LORD says: ‘In the same way will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.'” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way. [12] Shortly after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: [13] “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the LORD says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron. [14] This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.'” [15] Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. [16] Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.'” [17] In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“We are too familiar with alluring prophets. We have seen them crumble into fragments. We have seen them bring God into disrepute” (Karl Barth).

Think Further

The question of true and false prophecy has been rumbling in the background of the last few days’ readings. Now it bursts into the open, and around the presenting issue of the day: how to respond to Babylon. Hananiah gives an optimistic message that is contrary to that conveyed by Jeremiah. We might imagine him speaking during a debate over whether or not to resist the Babylonian overlords.

Jeremiah responds cautiously at first. Presumably, the distinction between true and false proclamation was no easier to make then than it is now. History is the final arbiter on these things, but we often have to make judgments without the benefit of hindsight. Jeremiah prays that Hananiah may be right (6), while at the same time cautioning that even messages of peace may be false if they are not in tune with the mind of God (9). Then he holds his own counsel. We, too, do well, on hearing a troubling message, not to say too much when we are unsure of the mind of God, but to pray for the emergence of God’s words anyway.

Once Jeremiah sensed that he had a word from the Lord (12), however, he spoke. Once again, he sticks to the basics. The issue is not how long the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar will last; on another occasion, Hananiah’s prophecy could be correct. The issue is that Hananiah was not sent by the Lord: he “persuaded this nation to trust in lies” (15). The Church today still struggles to find the mind of God on the great social and political debates of our times. Still today we need the insight to discern where our words and actions become denials of the will of God for our societies. Still today it behooves us to speak cautiously, prayerfully and, occasionally, boldly.

Apply

Place before God somebody or some group whose message and commitments you find troubling. Ask for wisdom.

Closing prayer

Lord, raise up prophets who speak Your Word to the church. Grant them discernment, wisdom, and courage. Empower me as well, Lord, to live prophetically for You.

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