Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah"
Text: Jeremiah 29:31
THE JUDGMENT AGAINST SHEMAIAH
Shemaiah had not reckoned with the fact that God would stand up for Jeremiah. He had also not realised the seriousness of his sin! The judgment God pronounced was a significant deterrent to all the wicked who harm others by their sinful activities.
“Now Zephaniah the priest read this letter
in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.
Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying:
Send to all those in captivity, saying,
Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite:
Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I have not sent him,
and he has caused you to trust in a lie—
therefore thus says the LORD:
Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his family:
he shall not have anyone to dwell among this people,
nor shall he see the good that I will do for My people, says the LORD,
because he has taught rebellion against the LORD.”
Jeremiah 29:29-32
1. “Now Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet”
a) Zephaniah went to Jeremiah.
b) He then read Shemaiah’s letter to Jeremiah.
2. “Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying”
a) The LORD sent a word to Jeremiah.
b) What He said would become the content of Jeremiah’s response to Shemaiah.
c) It would also be a word to all the Captives in Babylon.
3. “Send to all those in captivity, saying, Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I have not sent him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie”
a) The Captives in Babylon were included.
b) This letter would have a “Thus says the LORD” preface.
c) God mentioned Shemaiah directly.
i) Shemaiah’s prophecy was a major focus.
ii) God declares that Shemaiah was not one of His prophets.
iii) Shemaiah had caused the Captives to believe in a lie.
4. “Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his family: he shall not have anyone to dwell among this people, nor shall he see the good that I will do for My people, says the LORD, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD”
a) The punishment of Shemaiah was announced.
b) His family would be affected.
i) What he did had repercussions on his family.
ii) None of his family members would dwell among the Captives.
c) With reference to Shemaiah personally.
i) He will not see the good that God has planned for His people.
ii) He is judged for teaching rebellion.
iii) This rebellion was not against the Babylonians but against the LORD Himself.
iv) In preaching a lie, he is deemed guilty of grave sin that merits a severe punishment.