August 14, 2017. Jeremiah 26-29

In Order. Find Him

How do you find out what is truth, sometimes you have to wait to see what comes true first. 

Let’s break this down, in the last few verses of chapter 28 it is Hananiah the prophet vs. Jeremiah the prophet.  Hananiah says that the Lord is going to bring back everything that was taken from them and bring back the exiles of Judah. Jeremiah would love for this to happen and even says “Amen! May the Lord do so!” in verse 6. But Jeremiah knows better and warns him in the next verses

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 predictions comes true.”

Jeremiah kind of shrugs his shoulder like “yeah that sounds great and all, but you know it is not that simple, so let us wait and see.” So the Lord tells Jeremiah to give Hananiah this message (obviously since he is not a prophet of the Lord):

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.’”

Harsh, but whose prophesy comes true?

17  In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.

Not even two months later Jeremiah’s prophesy comes true. Jeremiah 1, Hananiah 0.

Jeremiah then writes a letter to the exiles, trying to encourage them and give them some guidance. You can find this letter in chapter 29, a letter telling them to build homes and settle down, start families, grow gardens and seek peace and prosperity, but don’t get your hopes up about the dreams the false prophets are feeding them for they are lies.  He tells them that the Lord will come for them, but not for 70 years.  If you are going to read any of these chapters, read this one. It is full of hope, but wrapped in hard truth. 

We cannot get stuck on what false prophets may hurl our way.  We cannot live our lives waiting. We are called to action; we are called to be soldiers of the cross.  It is not always sunshine and rainbows, there is war all around us, a battle for the lost souls.  He promises hope and a future and when we seek him and pursue him, he promises we will find him.  Don’t get caught up in the lies. Live life pursuing after the One who created you, don’t waste your life sitting waiting for him to come to you.

Jeremiah 29: 13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.