Jeremiah (1-31) 28:12 Commentary and Bible Study

Hananiah is going to be judged and he is going to be punished for giving a false prophecy. ‘Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.’ Your foolish words will only encourage them in their rebellion, and rebellion will bring even harsher treatment from the Babylonians. There is an obvious connection between Hananiah’s action in breaking the yoke from Jeremiah’s neck and the greater severity which will result. Hananiah has contradicted God’s word in the most forceful way he could, and he has done it in the house of the Lord. He has dared to countermand the word of God coming through his inspired prophet and contradict God to his face. The action he has taken is itself symbolic. The yoke of Babylon on Israel and its neighbours is to be broken, and the nations set free. But there is a difference between a false symbol and reality. Those who try to twist God’s word find that God has special treatment for them. Those who try to fight against the discipline of the Lord bring themselves under stricter discipline. They will never win. God has countless ways of catching the crafty man. ‘With the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward’ (Psalm 18:26). God has determined that the hand of Nebuchadnezzar will be even heavier on these nations as a result of what Hananiah has done. ‘I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations’, and that includes Judah. God does not explain why he has elevated Babylon at this time; he simply requires them to accept his sovereign plan without questioning it.