064. III. Dispelling False Hopes Of Speedy Deliverance From Babylon’s Rule
III DISPELLING FALSE HOPES OF SPEEDY DELIVERANCE FROM BABYLON’S RULE 1. The Folly of Rebellion (Jeremiah 27:1-22)
Let the nations submit to Nebuchadrezzar (Jeremiah 27:1-11). Early during the reign of Zedekiah, in the year 595 B.C., when the states of Palestine were sending embassies to each other for the purpose of forming a coalition against Nebuchadrezzar, Jeremiah was inspired to make five yokes, and to give one to each of the foreign messengers who came plotting rebellion. These they were to present to their masters the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon, with the following message from Jehovah: “I am the creator and supreme ruler of the earth. I give authority to whom I please. Nebuchadrezzar, the Babylonian king, is performing a service for me. To him and his family I have granted for a period supreme control over the people in this part of the earth. The nation which does not submit to his rule shall experience the miseries of war, famine, and pestilence. Therefore heed not the deceptive messages of your perverse religious leaders, for, if you listen to their encouragements to revolt against Babylon, they will betray you. Rebellion means certain exile. Continue to submit to Nebuchadrezzar, and you will be allowed undisturbed to enjoy your lands.”
Let not Judah be beguiled into rebellion (Jeremiah 27:12-22). Jeremiah gave the same warning to Zedekiah and the people of Judah: “Remain loyal to Babylon. It is suicide to rebel. Those prophets who encourage you to do so are deceivers, and speak without any commission from Jehovah. Their prediction that the vessels of the temple, which have been carried to Babylon, will soon be brought back is an idle dream. Even the few paltry ones which were left behind will before long be borne off to Babylon, where they shall remain until Jehovah sees fit to restore them.”
2. Contest between Jeremiah and Hananiah (Jer 28)
Later, in the same critical year, Hananiah, a certain prophet from the town of Gibeon, publicly in the temple contradicted Jeremiah, declaring in the name of Jehovah of hosts, and using the characteristic formulas of the true prophets, that within two years Jehovah would bring back the vessels of the temple, together with Jehoiakin and the Jews carried to Babylon, and that he would break the power of Nebuchadrezzar. “Would that your prediction might be realized,” was Jeremiah’s rejoinder, “but remember, O Judeans, that many prophets in the past have uttered similar popular prophecies, which, alas, have proved false. The sole proof of the truth of a prediction is not whether its content is pleasing, but whether it is fulfilled.”
Acted prophecies (Jeremiah 28:10-17). Stung by the implications contained in Jeremiah’s reply, Hananiah tore off the yoke, which his opponent was wearing about his neck as a symbol of the captivity which he predicted, and broke it into pieces. Then turning to the people, Hananiah declared: “Even thus will Jehovah within two years break that rule which Nebuchadrezzar now exercises over the nations.” Abashed by the boldness of his opponent, Jeremiah departed without replying. Soon, however, he returned with this new word from Jehovah: “True, O Hananiah. you have broken the yoke of wood, but a yoke of iron shall take its place. Even so the nations may for a moment throw off the comparatively easy rule of Babylon, but the penalty of their rebellion shall be a much more grievous servitude. Since you, O prophet, have sought to betray this people by a false message, within a year shall you die the death of a traitor.” In the seventh month of the same year the divine sentence was executed.