This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you lies in My name: "I will deliver them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your very eyes. “This is what the LORD of Hosts”The phrase "LORD of Hosts" refers to Yahweh, the sovereign God who commands the armies of heaven. In Hebrew, "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, and "Hosts" is "Sabaoth," indicating His supreme authority over all celestial and earthly forces. This title emphasizes God's omnipotence and His ability to execute judgment and deliverance. It reassures the faithful of His ultimate control over the events of history, including the fate of nations and individuals. “the God of Israel”
This designation underscores the covenant relationship between God and the nation of Israel. It highlights God's faithfulness to His chosen people, despite their frequent disobedience. Historically, this relationship is rooted in the promises made to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and is a reminder of God's enduring commitment to His people. It serves as a call to Israel to return to their covenant obligations and trust in God's plans. “says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah”
Ahab and Zedekiah were false prophets who misled the people of Judah. Their mention by name signifies the seriousness of their offense and the personal nature of God's judgment. In the historical context, false prophets were a significant problem, leading people away from God's truth. The specificity of their lineage ("son of Kolaiah" and "son of Maaseiah") serves to identify them clearly, leaving no doubt about who is being addressed. “who are prophesying lies to you in My name”
The act of prophesying lies in God's name is a grave sin, as it involves misrepresenting God's will and leading His people astray. The Hebrew word for "lies" is "sheqer," which conveys falsehood and deception. This phrase highlights the danger of false teachings and the importance of discernment among believers. It serves as a warning against those who claim divine authority without true revelation from God. “I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon”
This statement is a declaration of divine judgment. "Deliver" in Hebrew is "nathan," meaning to give or hand over, indicating God's active role in the unfolding of events. Nebuchadnezzar, as the king of Babylon, was God's chosen instrument for executing judgment on Judah. Historically, Babylon was a dominant power, and its king was known for his military conquests. This phrase underscores God's sovereignty in using even pagan rulers to accomplish His purposes. “and he will put them to death before your very eyes”
The phrase "before your very eyes" emphasizes the public nature of the judgment and serves as a stark warning to the people of Judah. It is a fulfillment of divine justice that is both immediate and visible. The historical context reveals that public executions were a means of instilling fear and demonstrating the power of the ruling authority. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the seriousness with which God views the distortion of His word. Persons / Places / Events 1. Ahab son of KolaiahA false prophet in Jerusalem who misled the people by prophesying lies in the name of the Lord. 2. Zedekiah son of MaaseiahAnother false prophet alongside Ahab, spreading deceitful messages to the Israelites. 3. Nebuchadnezzar, King of BabylonThe ruler of Babylon who was used by God as an instrument of judgment against the false prophets. 4. JerusalemThe city where these false prophecies were being proclaimed, leading the people astray. 5. The LORD of Hosts, the God of IsraelThe sovereign God who pronounces judgment on the false prophets for their deceit. Teaching Points Discernment in ProphecyBelievers must exercise discernment and test the spirits to ensure that teachings align with Scripture. Consequences of False ProphecyGod takes false prophecy seriously, and there are severe consequences for those who lead others astray. God's Sovereignty in JudgmentGod uses even foreign rulers and nations to accomplish His purposes and execute judgment. The Importance of TruthUpholding truth is crucial in our walk with God; we must be vigilant against deceit and lies. Faithfulness to God's WordWe are called to remain faithful to God's Word, even when false teachings are prevalent. Bible Study Questions 1. How can we discern between true and false prophets in today's context, and what tools does Scripture provide for this discernment? 2. What are the potential consequences of following false teachings, both personally and within the church community? 3. How does understanding God's sovereignty in judgment, as seen in Jeremiah 29:21, affect our view of current world events? 4. In what ways can we ensure that we are upholding truth in our daily lives and interactions with others? 5. How do the warnings about false prophets in Jeremiah 29:21 relate to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 18:20-22This passage outlines the criteria for true and false prophets, emphasizing the seriousness of speaking falsely in God's name. Matthew 7:15-20Jesus warns about false prophets, describing them as wolves in sheep's clothing, and teaches how to recognize them by their fruits. 2 Peter 2:1-3Peter warns the early church about false teachers who will introduce destructive heresies, similar to the false prophets in Jeremiah's time. People Ahab, Anathoth, David, Elasah, Eleasah, Gemariah, Hilkiah, Jeconiah, Jehoiada, Jeremiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar, Shaphan, Shemaiah, Zedekiah, ZephaniahPlaces Anathoth, Babylon, Jerusalem, NehelamTopics Ahab, Armies, Babylon, Behold, Death, Deliver, Falsehood, Falsely, Giving, Hands, Hosts, Kill, Kolaiah, Kola'iah, Lie, Lies, Maaseiah, Ma-asei'ah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar, Nebuchadrez'zar, Prophesy, Prophesying, Saying, Says, Slay, Smite, Smitten, Thus, Zedekiah, Zedeki'ahDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 29:21 4123 Satan, deceiver
4125 Satan, agents of Jeremiah 29:21-23 7774 prophets, false Library Finding God
Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.' (Jeremiah xxix. 13.) The words of Jeremiah in their relation to God are very appropriate for men and women in whose hearts there is any longing after personal Holiness. Look at them: 'Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart'. I like this word, because it turns our minds to the true and only source of light and life and power. We speak of seeking and getting the blessing; but, …
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and ServiceThe Secret of Effectual Prayer
"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall have them."--MARK xi. 24. Here we have a summary of the teaching of our Lord Jesus on prayer. Nothing will so much help to convince us of the sin of our remissness in prayer, to discover its causes, and to give us courage to expect entire deliverance, as the careful study and then the believing acceptance of that teaching. The more heartily we enter into the mind of our blessed Lord, and set ourselves simply …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession The Spirit of Prayer.
Text.--Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God.--Romans viii. 26, 27. My last lecture but one was on the subject of Effectual Prayer; in which I observed that one of the most important attributes of effectual …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion The Costliness of Prayer
"Lord, teach us to pray."--Luke xi. 1. "And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart."--Jer. xxix. 13. IN his fine book on Benefits, Seneca says that nothing is so costly to us as that is which we purchase by prayer. When we come on that hard-to-be-understood saying of his for the first time, we set it down as another of the well-known paradoxes of the Stoics. For He who is far more to us than all the Stoics taken together has said to us on the subject of prayer,--"Ask, …
Alexander Whyte—Lord Teach Us To Pray Putting God to Work
"For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside thee who worketh for him that waiteth for him."--Isaiah 64:4. The assertion voiced in the title given this chapter is but another way of declaring that God has of His own motion placed Himself under the law of prayer, and has obligated Himself to answer the prayers of men. He has ordained prayer as a means whereby He will do things through men as they pray, which He would not otherwise do. Prayer …
Edward M. Bounds—The Weapon of Prayer The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 The Seventh Commandment
Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Exod 20: 14. God is a pure, holy spirit, and has an infinite antipathy against all uncleanness. In this commandment he has entered his caution against it; non moechaberis, Thou shalt not commit adultery.' The sum of this commandment is, The preservations of corporal purity. We must take heed of running on the rock of uncleanness, and so making shipwreck of our chastity. In this commandment there is something tacitly implied, and something expressly forbidden. 1. The …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Jeremiah 29:21 NIVJeremiah 29:21 NLTJeremiah 29:21 ESVJeremiah 29:21 NASBJeremiah 29:21 KJV
Jeremiah 29:21 Commentaries
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