Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 270
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IMMERSE
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PROPHETS
28:13–29:14
I will break the yoke of oppression from all the nations now subject to King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.’” With that, Jeremiah left the Temple area.
Soon after this confrontation with Hananiah, the Lord gave this mes
sage to Jeremiah: “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You
have broken a wooden yoke, but you have replaced it with a yoke of iron.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I have put a yoke
of iron on the necks of all these nations, forcing them into slavery under
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have put everything, even the wild
animals, under his control.’”
Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah, “Listen, Hanan iah! The
Lord has not sent you, but the people believe your lies. Therefore, this is
what the Lord says: ‘You must die. Your life will end this very year because
you have rebelled against the Lord.’”
Two months later the prophet Hananiah died.
Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and
all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuc hadnezzar.
This was after King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the court officials, the
other officials of Judah, and all the craftsmen and artisans had been de
ported from Jerusalem. He sent the letter with Elas ah son of Shaphan and
Gemariah son of Hilkiah when they went to Babylon as King Zedekiah’s
ambassadors to Nebuchadnezzar. This is what Jeremiah’s letter said:
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says
to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build
homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.
Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may
have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work
for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile.
Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:
“Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the
land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, because they
are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.
This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy
years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have
promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have
for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will
listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be
