Jeremiah 28

In this chapter we see how Jeremiah confronts a false prophet named Hananiah.

Jeremiah does not get emotional. He does not even seem angry.

Jeremiah is cautious at first you could say. They meet at the temple. Hananiah predicts that Nebuchadnezzar will be overthrown within two years and all the temple instruments, valuable and precious, dedicated to God will be returned. Also the king and the nobles will return as well. This would be good news but it is false.

Even though this is totally contrary to what Jeremiah is prophesying Jeremiah does not directly rebuke him or contradict him.

Jeremiah is creative in his way of contradicting him. He says he wishes this were true. Only later, when God directly tells Jeremiah to denounce him does he do it. Jeremiah does not speak unless he first hears. We might get defensive and angry but Jeremiah is humble enough to wait. He knows God is in control and he does not need him defending him.

Jeremiah originally heard Hananiah in public. He may be denouncing him in private. It is not really stated.

But his prophesy is a lie and dangerous. It encourages the people to rebel which would then cause their destruction and the destruction of the city. Therefore God condemns Hananiah as a false prophet.

God tells Jeremiah to pronounce sentence of Hananiah. He will die within the year. And it happens. That is how the chapter ends.