Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"When the word of the prophet comes to pass"
Text: Jeremiah 28:9
THE LITMUS TEST OF PROPHECY
Jeremiah offered this challenging but fair word to all who were hearing this word proclaimed. He subjected himself to the same litmus test.
“Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak
in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
The prophets who have been before me and before you of old
prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms—
of war and disaster and pestilence.
As for the prophet who prophesies of peace,
when the word of the prophet comes to pass,
the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent.”
Jeremiah 28:7-9
1. “Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people”
a) Jeremiah offered a test; this word was spoken publicly.
b) All prophets and prophetic utterances must be subject to this test.
2. “The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms—of war and disaster and pestilence”
a) Jeremiah cited the prophets of old.
b) They prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms.
c) They preached about war, disaster and pestilence.
d) One clear example was Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 1-39).
3. “As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent”
a) Hananiah was a prophet who had promised that peace would come and not war.
b) Was he right? This was in total contrast to the former prophets.
c) The test will make clear who the true prophet is.
i) Which prophetic word would be fulfilled?
ii) The prophetic word about war (Jeremiah)?
iii) Or the prophetic word about peace (Hananiah)?
iv) Whichever word is fulfilled, that is the prophet the LORD had sent.