Prayer: Father, prophets have a responsibility to speak only what comes from You. They are not to add to it or embellish it in any way. May I be responsible in teaching Your Word too. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 28:15-17 “Then said the prophet Jeremiah to the prophet Hananiah: “Hear now, Hananiah! Adonai has not sent you, yet you have caused this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus says Adonai: I am about to send you away from off the face of the earth. This year you will die, since you have spoken apostasy against Adonai.” So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. TLV
Attention: Adonai’s words to Moses regarding a true prophet were, “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My Name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet will die (Deuteronomy 18:20).” Some translations state that the prophet “must be put to death.” Stoning was a preferred method.
Jeremiah gave an “amen” to Hananiah when he broke the yoke off Jeremiah. But prior to Jeremiah leaving from the first encounter, Hananiah spoke for God declaring peace and that God would break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon from off the neck of all the nations within two full years (vs. 11b).
Again, Adonai comes to Jeremiah with another message, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, so that they may serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will serve him, and I have also given him the beasts of the field (vs. 14b).” This was not the message of peace which Hananiah had wrongfully prophesied as a message from Adonai.
The consequences were death, Hananiah died the next year.
There are dire consequences for adding to God’s word found in Revelation, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his share in the Tree of Life and the Holy City, which are written in this book (22:18-19).”
Are you willing to risk eternity for adding or subtracting from the Word of God? Choose today to be faithful to God and rightly dividing His word.
Action: I choose to be a faithful student of God, rightly dividing the word of Adonai.
Yield: I choose to yield to the Sovereignty of God.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in rightly dividing the word of Truth.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedient relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, whether a prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher, we all have a responsibility to declare only Your word, and rightly represent it. May we be faithful to teach the whole gospel. Amen.
Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15 “Make every effort to present yourself before God as tried and true, as an unashamed worker cutting a straight path with the word of truth.” TLV
Music Video: Jeremy Riddle—Jesus Have it All https://youtu.be/kN7mi02GA6s?si=WY918adS8eCe9kEw
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”