Context No. 3196 of 4322 · Jeremiah

Jeremiah 29:20-32: in context

20Hear therefore the LORD’s word, all you captives whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in my name: “Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he will kill them before your eyes. 22A curse will be taken up about them by all the captives of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, ‘The LORD make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;’ 23because they have done foolish things in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I didn’t command them. I am he who knows, and am witness,” says the LORD. 24Concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, saying, 25“The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26“The LORD has made you priest in the place of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the LORD’s house, for every man who is crazy and makes himself a prophet, that you should put him in the stocks and in shackles. 27Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who makes himself a prophet to you, 28because he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, The captivity is long. Build houses, and dwell in them. Plant gardens, and eat their fruit?”’” 29Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30Then the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah, saying, 31“Send to all of the captives, saying, ‘The LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I didn’t send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie,” 32therefore the LORD says, “Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his offspring. He will not have a man to dwell among this people. He won’t see the good that I will do to my people,” says the LORD, “because he has spoken rebellion against the LORD.”’”

In a hard sequel to his letter, Jeremiah pronounces God's judgment on false prophets among the exiles, men who prophesied lies in God's name, and on Shemaiah, who wrote from Babylon urging the priests to silence Jeremiah for telling the truth. Because Shemaiah made the people trust in a lie, he too will be judged.

This sobering passage is about false prophecy. Men prophesied comfort in God's name that God had never spoken, telling the exiles their captivity would be brief, while Jeremiah, who told the hard truth, was the one attacked. God's verdict falls on those who made the people trust in a lie. To speak falsely in God's name, especially to tell people what they want to hear rather than what is true, is treated with deadly seriousness. And Jeremiah, opposed and slandered for the true word, is vindicated. God distinguishes the true word from the comforting lie, and holds the false prophet to account.

Do I discern the true word of God from comforting falsehood, and am I willing to hold to the truth even when the pleasant lie is more popular?

Sources

Jeremiah 29:31: "Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I didn't send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie."
Jeremiah 29:9: "For they prophesy falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them, says the LORD."
2 Peter 2:1: "There will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies."