Jeremiah 28

“Thus says the LORD: You have broken wooden bars, but you have made in their place bars of iron” (v13). The “prophet” Hananiah told Israel that in two years, the Babylonians would be defeated. Jeremiah had been wearing “wooden bars” (a yoke) around his neck to symbolize the coming Babylonian rule, and Hananiah broke them. Despite the drama of this gesture, Hananiah was lying. Israel would not defeat the Babylonians. His false words of peace made everything worse – exchanging wooden bars for iron ones.

“As for the prophet who prophesies peace …” (v9). Hananiah’s false comfort was dangerous. God wants us to face reality and lean on Him in the midst of it.