Links for today’s readings:
Sep 3 Read: Jeremiah 28 Listen: (3:05) Read: 1 Corinthians 5 Listen: (1:58)
Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 28.10-17
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 I will 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 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.
Reflection: False Prophecies and Real Consequences
By John Tillman
Jeremiah wore his yoke in the king’s court and in the temple. (Imagine someone doing this in your church or the Oval Office!) I’m sure many felt Jeremiah’s stunt was disruptive, divisive, disturbing, and disrespectful.
Visual stunts are part of biblical prophetic tradition. Jeremiah’s yoke is just one in a long line. Hosea married a prostitute. Isaiah went naked. Ezekiel ate food cooked over dung and built a model of besieged Jerusalem.
Many modern protesters look to prophetic stunts for inspiration. They use elaborate props, costumes, artwork, and engage in strange behavior. If Jeremiah had access to an inflatable costume of an ox wearing a yoke, he probably would have worn it.
It is unclear how long Jeremiah’s stunt lasted. Days? Weeks? But eventually, tolerance ran out. Hananiah attacked Jeremiah, ripped off the yoke, and as a counter-protest, broke it into pieces to illustrate his prophetic message.
If saying so made it so, anyone could be a prophet.
Hananiah predicted one thing and Jeremiah another. Jeremiah said Babylon would conquer. Hananiah said Babylon would fall. Jeremiah said Israel would wear Babylon’s yoke. Hananiah said God would break it off. Jeremiah promised exile and suffering. Hananiah promised miraculous rescue and glory.
Which attention-grabbing prophetic stunt communicated the truth? How could Jerusalem know? Can we blame folks for wanting to believe Hananiah’s promises? Even Jeremiah hoped Hananiah was right instead of himself.
Have you felt that way? I have. I’ve heard foolish claims and obviously false promises from religious or political leaders and thought, “I hope you’re right” or “I wish you weren’t lying.”
Making and following false prophecies has serious consequences. Hananiah broke a wooden yoke, but the real yoke God sent was unbreakable. Hananiah, and many others, died because they refused to listen to Jeremiah.
Those who keep promising things they can’t or don’t deliver bring harm on themselves and those who believe them. This harm will not go unpunished by God. We rarely have input into the consequences for leaders who do this. (Other than not trusting them in the future.) But we can trust God that consequences will come.
Also, we don’t have to choose between false hope and hopelessness. Jeremiah also promised the yoke would be broken. Just not as soon as Hananiah claimed. The proud would be destroyed and the humble saved.
There is always hope for those who humble themselves before God.
Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under foot by men.” — Matthew 5:13
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Readers’ Choice is Coming!
Readers’ Choice is when we ask you to share your favorite Park Forum posts from this year. What posts helped you explain the gospel?
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Read more: Solo Sins and Systemic Sins
Prophets address moral problems that are both spiritual and political…especially in Jeremiah’s day, when state power and religious power were synonymous.
