Jeremiah 28 Commentary
The false prophet Hananiah is swiftly punished by the LORD for his false prophecies – within two months!
There is a punishment for misleading the sheep. Preach correctly. Don’t misrepresent the Creator God. There are consequences.
But what is the difference? For doing a very good job, Jeremiah is beaten and nearly killed. For doing a very bad job, Hananiah’s life is cut short.
Hananiah’s works died with him. On the other hand, Jeremiah’s timeless words have taught millions! Yes, because Jeremiah’s words are God’s words!
Hananiah sought to impress the people. He preached what itching ears wanted. He probably achieved stardom, but only briefly.
We have an example of confusion. Stardom is a myth. It’s a place we all wish to be. It’s a level we all dream of reaching. It’s a state of being we all have desired. But it’s a myth.
Ask the people we consider to have reached it. Ask men and women we think have made it the “summit”. Then we know it’s a myth. It doesn’t exist. Hananiah achieved nothing in his life beyond an early grave!
Vanity (any pursuit outside of God’s specifications) comes with emptiness, nothingness, and a constant feeling of wastefulness. On the other hand, Jeremiah and team know peace even in the face of adversity.
Hananiah may have gotten the approval of authorities and populists, but he lacked an all-important approval rating from Heaven – the only thing that should matter at the end of the day.
Christianity isn’t about the good things that the world wants to hear. Say it as it is from the holy script. Receive zero social media Likes, have reduced church attendance as a consequence, or never get another invite. But know, you have the most important approval rating from Heaven!
For saying what the people wanted to hear, probably Hananiah got physical rewards, but of what use? His death paints for us the sad ending of all vanity. It all comes to nothing. And the saint’s suffering in righteousness isn’t at all for nothing. Glory awaits!
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