Our Scripture meditation is based on Jeremiah 28:5–9 from the Old Testament Reading for next week, the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. For a meditation on the Gospel Lesson click HERE.
[5] Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD, [6] and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all the exiles. [7] Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. [8] The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. [9] As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet.”
The instruction for discerning whether a prophet is from God or not still impacts Christians today.
In Jeremiah chapter 28 a false prophet named Hananiah prophesied blessings for God’s people. The Prophet Jeremiah responded by saying that, if the positive prophecies came to pass, Hananiah was truly sent by God. However, If the prophesies did not come to pass, Hananiah was a false prophet.
How does this impact us today?
In Luther’s Small Catechism we learn that Jesus has a three-fold office: Prophet, Priest, and King. This means Jesus must be measured against the standard for prophets in the Bible.
In Mark 9:31 Jesus predicts that He will be killed, then rise on the third day. This was fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection on the third day. The fact that Jesus is proven a true prophet of God, we trust additional prophesies or promises made by our Lord.
- Jesus said He would never leave us (Matthew 28:20)
- Jesus said He was going to prepare places for us in heaven (John 14:1-4)
- Jesus said there will be a new heaven and new earth (Revelation chapter 21).
Such promises and prophesies are vitally important for our faith today.
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
Kevin Wilson 360 