Mon.’s Devo - Exposing the False and Expanding the True

Read: Jeremiah 26:1-27:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18; Psalm 85:1-13; proverbs 25:16 In the late summer of that same year, the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign, Hananiah, a prophet from Gibeon addressed Jeremiah publicly in the Temple in front of the priests and people. He told him that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies would remove the yoke of the king of Babylon within 2 years and bring back all the Temple treasures, their king Jehoiachin and all the captives they had taken. *** Jeremiah’s response at that time was to “Amen” his prophecy and say that he hoped that would happened. But he reminded them that a prophet who predicts peace must show he is right by his predictions coming true. Hannaniah took the yoke off Jeremiah and broke it to give him a show that his prophecy was true. God sent Jeremiah back to give them Hananiah a message. He had broken a wooden yoke, but God would replace it with a yoke of iron forcing all the nations into slavery under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Even the wild animals would be under him. He turned to Hananiah and told him the Lord had not sent him, but because the people believed him, he had to die. In two months, he died. *** Jeremiah then wrote a letter to the elders, priests, prophets and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon. He sent it with Elasah and Gemariah who had gone to Babylon as King Zedekiah’s ambassadors. It was a letter to be read to the people who had been exiled to Babylon. It said for them to build homes and plan to stay there. Live their lives like normal and work for the people and prosperity of the city where they were sent. Pray for God’s welfare to be upon the people and they would be blessed also. *** Furthermore, do not listen to the false prophets and fortune-tellers who lie. They would be there for 70 years and then God would come for them and give them the good things he had promised them. He would bring them home. His plans for them in the future were good and hopeful. He would be found by anyone who would look for him. In the end he would gather them and give them back their land and their fortunes. *** Jeremiah gave the names of the prophets who were telling them lies - Ahab and Zedekiah. They had not only lied to them in God’s name but they had committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives. *** God sent a message to Shemaiah in Babylon exposing his lies. He had written a letter to Zephaniah, the priest and other priest in Jerusalem telling them to put Jeremiah in stocks and neck irons. He told them about the letter he had sent to the captives in Babylon saying they would be in captivity for a long time. When Zephaniah received Shemaiah’s letter, he gave it to Jeremiah. God told Jeremiah to send an open letter to all the exiles in Babylon telling them what Shemaiah had done and how he was tricking them. He would be punished and none of his family would live to see the good things God had planned for his people. *** Today we begin the letter to Timothy from Paul. Paul had left Ephesus to visit other churches. He was gone nine months while Timothy was left in charge. Paul wrote to Timothy to instruct and encourage him until he could return. *** Some of the people had gotten caught up in Gnosticism which started out as very legalistic then advanced to superstition then from there went to godlessness. This was the teaching that Paul said was contrary to the truth. Paul warned Timothy in getting caught up in endless discussions of myths and spiritual pedigrees which only led to meaningless speculations. These don’t help people live a life of faith in God. *** The law is good when used correctly but it was not intended for people who were righteous, but for people who were lawless and rebellious. *** God had saved Paul from a sinful life of persecuting his people but by the mercy and life of Christ, he was saved. *** Paul encouraged Timothy to remember the prophetic words which were spoken about him and let them help him fight his battles and cling to their faith in Christ, keeping their consciences clear. He reminded Timothy of Hymenaeus and Alexander who Paul had handed over to Satan so that they might learn not to blaspheme God. *** Lord, may we not be caught up in false teachings which are silly arguments that don’t lead to an end. May we be intentional and wise and use our time on earth wisely. Thank you for discernment.