February 27: THE COMMAND TO PERSEVERE (part 5)

And it happened . . . at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet . . . spoke to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.’” Jeremiah 28:1-2

Perseverance includes seeking the LORD’s timing on all things. When He announced through Jeremiah the takeover by Babylon of all the nations (Jeremiah 25), including Judah—who had failed to learn the lesson from the demise of her sister Israel—a grace period was given to Judah: “Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil…” (26:3), but instead they angrily cried out that Jeremiah should die (vv. 8,11). Jeremiah was instructed by the LORD to make yokes as symbols of humility and deliver them to surrounding leaders (27:2-3) informing them that the LORD is in charge. It is He who is giving them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, “My servant” (v.6). This seventy-year period of humbling (25:11) could be survived by all who would respectfully submit (vv.11-13 – see also 29:11-13).

It was no surprise to the LORD that Hananiah, a false prophet, put himself onto center stage. Hananiah’s message was one of “cutting corners” instead of persevering according to God’s explicit directions. This false message caused the people to trust in a lie (28:15). The “peace” of Hananiah’s message was a false peace; he took the yoke off of the prophet Jeremiah’s neck and broke it (v.10). Hananiah’s breaking of the yoke was a showy and daring challenge as to which of the prophets truly represented the LORD. Clearly, he was accusing Jeremiah of being unreliable. Jeremiah went his way (v.11).

Then the LORD spoke to Jeremiah: “Go and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron.”’” (v.13)

This iron * is a foreshadowing of the iron monarchy of Rome. Many historians employ this phrase, based upon the longevity of pagan Rome’s rule, followed by papal Rome. Her worldwide rule attempts to replace the rule of the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS** by substituting alterations to God’s Way of salvation while claiming to be His representative on the earth. This earthly power will continue its false ways until Jesus comes. But His true followers will persevere in seeking Him.

“I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD.” Jeremiah 29:14

*Daniel 2:33-35, 40-45; 5:4,23; 7:7,19

**Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15,16