The Jeremiah Project, Week 28

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Week 28

Day 1

Link to video clip
(Originally posted Sunday, July 6, 2014)

Overview Jeremiah 28:1-17 - "The Killing Yoke". Our chapter this week is a real gut check. As we read, let us carefully consider if we are identifying more with Jeremiah or Hananiah. We can make good decisions when we try.
"Better be sure."

Day 2
(Originally posted Monday, July 7, 2014)

Jeremiah 28:1-4 - "Jeremiah's Evil Twin". In today's reading, we meet one of the scariest archetypes we read about in the Bible: the false prophet. This one's name is Hananiah.
Hananiah sounds real good in his rhetoric, like most false prophets do. He seems to have the right cadence and pattern in his speaking. He seems to be a decent, even well-intentioned man. His big problem is Yahweh didn't send him; He already sent Jeremiah to deliver His message to His people. He would not send another to contradict His previous message.
Sadly, there are many more like Hananiah in our world today that sound real good in their messaging. If we don't keep ourselves grounded in God's word and our eyes on Jesus, we just might get caught away by the gleam in their teeth.

Day 3
(Originally posted Tuesday, July 8, 2014)

Jeremiah 28:5-9 - "Jeremiah Stands His Ground". See also Deuteronomy 18:22. Our reading today details Jeremiah's reply to Hananiah the false prophet's false prophecy. Notice his answer begins with grace in agreement that he desires the best outcome for God's people, and continues with a recalling of SCRIPTURE! We can emulate this response in our own interactions with antagonists, either false friends or true enemies of the faith.

Day 4
(Originally posted Wednesday, July 9, 2014)

Jeremiah 28:10-11 - "Death By D'Sign" or "Some People Just Can't Take A Yoke". How do you hurt a true prophet of the Living God? You take the signs, words and works that Yahweh gave him to demonstrate, to say and to do, and you try to make them a mockery.
That is exactly what we see Hananiah doing in our verses today.
His yoke-breaking, sign-faking display also makes his motivation irrelevant.
Ultimately, Yahweh is trying to preserve His people through Jeremiah's sign and words, and Hananiah was making himself an opponent of that, whether he knew and understood that or not. This move will cost Hananiah his life.
Also, notice that Hananiah has STILL not referenced any Scripture at all; his only response to Jeremiah is to escalate, to raise the stakes.
So, how do you hurt a true prophet of the Living God? In the end, the worst you'll do is hurt his feelings. But by that point, you will have hurt yourself far worse.

Day 5

Link to video clip
(Originally posted Thursday, July 10, 2014)

Jeremiah 28:12-16 - "Yahweh Retorts". As we read Jeremiah delivering our God Yahweh's answer to the challenge Hananiah has presented, let us be aware and beware that a position staked out against Him has NO HOPE of success; there are only levels of failure and loss. For the people, this meant exchanging the harsh wooden yoke for an even harsher iron one. For Hananiah, it meant the ultimate loss.
In our lives, what and how much must we lose before we will stop fighting against Jesus, take whatever consequences He has for us, and let our restoration to Him begin?

Day 6

Link to video clip
(Originally posted Friday, July 11, 2014)

Jeremiah 28:17 - "Yahweh Makes Good. Quickly." See also Jeremiah 28:1 and 28:16. Notice in reading today's verse in the context of verses 1 and 16 that Yahweh moved VERY QUICKLY in shutting down Hananiah. This whole episode began in the fifth month of this year, possibly 594BC, and Jeremiah said only that in that very year Hananiah would die, potentially giving him seven months max to live; YET, we find he died in the seventh month, five months before the end of the year. Yahweh moved and acted as decisively for truth as Hananiah had for error.

Let the servants of our God Yahweh be encouraged, and let the enemies of Yahweh beware. Hallelu Yah!

Day 7
(Originally posted Saturday, July 12, 2014)

Review Jeremiah 28:1-17 and REST in the reassurance that
Just as our God Yahweh smashes down the plans of the enemy nearby,
He also knows His plans for His faraway sheep who o-beh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-ey.

<==== Back to Menu <== Back to Week 27 Proceed to week 29 ==>

Week 28
Day 1	Link to video clip	(Originally posted Sunday, July 6, 2014) Overview Jeremiah 28:1-17 - "The Killing Yoke". Our chapter this week is a real gut check. As we read, let us carefully consider if we are identifying more with Jeremiah or Hananiah. We can make good decisions when we try. "Better be sure."
Day 2		(Originally posted Monday, July 7, 2014) Jeremiah 28:1-4 - "Jeremiah's Evil Twin". In today's reading, we meet one of the scariest archetypes we read about in the Bible: the false prophet. This one's name is Hananiah. Hananiah sounds real good in his rhetoric, like most false prophets do. He seems to have the right cadence and pattern in his speaking. He seems to be a decent, even well-intentioned man. His big problem is Yahweh didn't send him; He already sent Jeremiah to deliver His message to His people. He would not send another to contradict His previous message. Sadly, there are many more like Hananiah in our world today that sound real good in their messaging. If we don't keep ourselves grounded in God's word and our eyes on Jesus, we just might get caught away by the gleam in their teeth.
Day 3		(Originally posted Tuesday, July 8, 2014) Jeremiah 28:5-9 - "Jeremiah Stands His Ground". See also Deuteronomy 18:22. Our reading today details Jeremiah's reply to Hananiah the false prophet's false prophecy. Notice his answer begins with grace in agreement that he desires the best outcome for God's people, and continues with a recalling of SCRIPTURE! We can emulate this response in our own interactions with antagonists, either false friends or true enemies of the faith.
Day 4		(Originally posted Wednesday, July 9, 2014) Jeremiah 28:10-11 - "Death By D'Sign" or "Some People Just Can't Take A Yoke". How do you hurt a true prophet of the Living God? You take the signs, words and works that Yahweh gave him to demonstrate, to say and to do, and you try to make them a mockery. That is exactly what we see Hananiah doing in our verses today. His yoke-breaking, sign-faking display also makes his motivation irrelevant. Ultimately, Yahweh is trying to preserve His people through Jeremiah's sign and words, and Hananiah was making himself an opponent of that, whether he knew and understood that or not. This move will cost Hananiah his life. Also, notice that Hananiah has STILL not referenced any Scripture at all; his only response to Jeremiah is to escalate, to raise the stakes. So, how do you hurt a true prophet of the Living God? In the end, the worst you'll do is hurt his feelings. But by that point, you will have hurt yourself far worse.
Day 5	Link to video clip	(Originally posted Thursday, July 10, 2014) Jeremiah 28:12-16 - "Yahweh Retorts". As we read Jeremiah delivering our God Yahweh's answer to the challenge Hananiah has presented, let us be aware and beware that a position staked out against Him has NO HOPE of success; there are only levels of failure and loss. For the people, this meant exchanging the harsh wooden yoke for an even harsher iron one. For Hananiah, it meant the ultimate loss. In our lives, what and how much must we lose before we will stop fighting against Jesus, take whatever consequences He has for us, and let our restoration to Him begin?
Day 6	Link to video clip	(Originally posted Friday, July 11, 2014) Jeremiah 28:17 - "Yahweh Makes Good. Quickly." See also Jeremiah 28:1 and 28:16. Notice in reading today's verse in the context of verses 1 and 16 that Yahweh moved VERY QUICKLY in shutting down Hananiah. This whole episode began in the fifth month of this year, possibly 594BC, and Jeremiah said only that in that very year Hananiah would die, potentially giving him seven months max to live; YET, we find he died in the seventh month, five months before the end of the year. Yahweh moved and acted as decisively for truth as Hananiah had for error. Let the servants of our God Yahweh be encouraged, and let the enemies of Yahweh beware. Hallelu Yah!
Day 7		(Originally posted Saturday, July 12, 2014) Review Jeremiah 28:1-17 and REST in the reassurance that Just as our God Yahweh smashes down the plans of the enemy nearby, He also knows His plans for His faraway sheep who o-beh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-ey.