[15] “You say that Adonai has raised up prophets for you in Bavel. [16] But here is what Adonai says about the king occupying David’s throne and about all the people living in this city, your kinsmen who did not go into exile with you – [17] thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot: ‘I will attack them with sword, famine, and plague; I will make them like bad figs, so bad they are inedible. Jeremiah 29:15-17
Verses 15-23 close out the first letter of Jeremiah in this chapter, and are once again focused upon the false prophets, the current king of Judah, and the remaining inhabitants of Jerusalem. He brings to mind previous words from Adonai with the metaphor of the bad fig, as well as what he had spoken would happen to those who did not submit to King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule and go into captivity in Babylon. Sword, famine, and plague; three instruments of death and destruction that would befall Jerusalem and all who remained.
Jeremiah does not just stick with generalities concerning the false prophets, he singles out three individuals as the ring leaders, still trying to lead the people away from Adonai, saying, [21]“Here is what Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el, says about Ach’av the son of Kolayah and Tzidkiyahu the son of Ma’aseiyah, who prophesy lies to you in my name: ‘I will hand them over to N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel, and he will put them to death before your own eyes. [22] In fact, all those exiled from Y’hudah who are in Bavel will take up this formula for cursing: “May Adonai make you like Tzidkiyahu and Ach’av, whom the king of Bavel roasted in the fire!” [23] Because they have done vile things in Isra’el, committing adultery with their neighbors’ wives and speaking words in my name, falsely, which I did not order them to say. For I am he who knows; I am witness to this.’ Says Adonai. Jeremiah 29:21-23 It appears that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not the only Hebrews to face the actual fires of Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath, only in this instance, there would be no saving because of another in the fire. If ever there was line written in scripture that should make each of us take notice for our own lives, it is in that final sentence, “For I am he who knows”. David understood full well that Adonai sees into the very depths of us when he said, “[13(12)] Who can discern unintentional sins? Cleanse me from hidden faults. [14(13)] Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins, so that they won’t control me. Then I will be blameless and free of great offense. [15(14)] May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your presence, Adonai, my Rock and Redeemer.” Psalm 19:13(12)-15(14) We see that David speaks not only of unintentional sin, but also that of willful and rebellious sin, calling on Adonai’s help so that he would not be controlled by his sin, because it is God alone that sees through our hearts, minds, actions, and words because He is He who knows. In John’s vision while on the Isle of Patmos, he also speaks of Adonai being He who knows in his letter to the Church of Thyatira. [20] But I have this against you: you continue to tolerate that Izevel (Jezebel) woman, the one who claims to be a prophet, but is teaching and deceiving my servants to commit sexual sin and eat food that has been sacrificed to idols. [21] I gave her time to turn from her sin, but she doesn’t want to repent of her immorality. [22] So I am throwing her into a sickbed; and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great trouble, unless they turn from the sins connected with what she does; [23] and I will strike her children dead! Then all the Messianic communities will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and that I will give to each of you what your deeds deserve. Revelation 2:20-23 I do want to point out, that the Jezebel noted in these scriptures is not the wife of Ahab from the book of 1 Kings, instead, she was woman who had been given authority to teach and she was seducing men within the church to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols. The chief idol in the city of Thyatira was Apollo, who was said to be linked with the power of the sun. (Commentary from the Dake Annotated Reference Bible and The Perry Stone Hebraic Prophetic Study Bible)
The final 8 verses of Jeremiah 29 are not a part of the letter we have been looking at but is a second letter Jeremiah sent to Babylon concerning Sh’ma’yah (Shemaiah) the Nechelami, who was more or less, the ringleader of the false prophets in Babylon. In this letter, Jeremiah confronts Sh’ma’yah about a letter that was sent in his (Sh’ma’yah’s) name to the people in Jerusalem, proclaiming himself to be an authoritative priest. Jeremiah tackled this head on in his own letter saying, “Your letter says, ‘Adonai has made you cohen (priest) in place of Y’hoyada the cohen, in order to have officials in Adonai’s house who will arrest any crazy person who makes himself out to be a prophet, so that you can restrain him in stocks and collar.” Jeremiah 29:26 He was in fact referring to Jeremiah and was making an attempt to get him arrested, mentioning from Jeremiah’s first letter that he had reaffirmed that they would be in exile for seventy years, to build houses, and to plant gardens and eat from them. His plan backfired however, as Tz’fanyah the cohen read the letter to Jeremiah instead of having him arrested. Adonai had his own response to Sh’ma’yah that Jeremiah penned in this second letter, exposing him, saying [31] Here is what Adonai says about Sh’ma’yah the Nechelami: “This Sh’ma’yah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has caused you to put your trust in a lie. [32] Because of this”, Adonai says, “I will punish Sh’ma’yah the Nechelami and his offspring. He will not have a man to live among this people, and he will not see the good I am planning to do for my people,” says Adonai “because he has preached rebellion against Adonai. Jeremiah 29:31-3What makes this exchange between Jeremiah and Sh’ma’yah ironic is that Sh’ma’yah’s name means “heard by Adonai, or Yah has heard”, and the root means “hear” or in Hebrew, Shema (shaw-mah). According to the Complete Jewish Study Bible, the Shema is the core and foundation of Isra’el’s faith and is the most important of all Jewish prayers. “Sh’ma, Yisra’el! Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad (Hear, Isra’el! Adonai our God, Adonai is one) Deuteronomy 6:4 Instead of speaking forth the truth, he chose to not hear Adonai and in turn, Adonai no longer heard him.
While this abruptly ends chapter 29, the message in its entirety is one that we can apply to our lives as we look forward to the promise of Yeshua’s return. To build, to plant, to eat, to increase and not decrease, to pray for our cities and country, as well as Israel and Jerusalem, to not be led astray by false prophets and teachings, to seek Adonai with our whole heart and know that He will let us find Him, and to rest in that good plan and promise, the promise of salvation. No matter if we feel like we are in exile, or sitting at His very feet, let us continue to grow in Him, be faithful with the calling He has bestowed upon us, let us go forth and preach the good news, the gospel of Yeshua-Jesus, Messiah. For He is coming soon, much sooner than I think any of us realize. May we all be ready for that day when the Bride is reunited with the Bridegroom, the exile of humanity finally over for all time.
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