Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 28

Verses 1-17

1. THE BREAKING OF THE YOKE! (28:1-17)
   1. False prophets give false hopes!
   2. Vs.2-4 – Historians tell us Neb. Was suppressing a revolt in Babylon.
      1. Hananiah wrongly interprets this as the end of Neb.’s rule.
   3. Vs.6 – This vs. could be interpreted “Oh, that the lord would do what you have said!”{or, possible sarcastic}
   4. Vs.10,11 – Note Jer. Doesn’t resist, nor does he reply to the false prophets message, he walked away(11).
      1. Q: Why would this be hard to do? (humbling, they’ll think you got stumped)
      2. Q: What was Jer. Doing? {He was waiting for the Right message from the Lord!}
         1. Q: How often have we just “given” an answer?
         2. “The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender.” William Booth
   5. Vs.13 – “Wood for Iron” – This was a curse for disobedience back in Deut. 28:48.
      1. We only add to our chastening when we resist it.
      2. Know this à “God is in charge of Yokes!”
         1. ​​​​​​​1^st - The one He gives you is the right one for you.
         2. 2^nd - No matter who puts it on your shoulder. {He can even use unbel.’s}
         3. 3^rd - Accept your yokes as from God & He will transform it from “Bondage to Blessing!”
         4. 4^th – If you Break the light yoke, the next one will be heavier.
         5. 5^th - Everyone must wear a yoke! {we are like wild beasts that need to be broken}
   6. vs.17 – God doesn’t usually strike someone dead in such a dramatic fashion.
      1. Q: Can you name a few? {The sons of Korah/Num.16; Uzzah/2 Sam.6; The Assyrian army(185,000)The Angel of the Lord/2 Kings 19:35; Ananias & Sapphira/Acts 5}
      2. Heb.10:31 “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
   7. YOKES! {remember yoke = submission}
      1. The nation broke Gods yoke by their sins – Jer.2:20; 5:5.
      2. Their sins became a heavy yoke – Lam.1:14 {which became even heavier w/the Baby. Captivity}
      3. God promised to remove this heavy yoke & give His people a new beginning – Jer.30:8-11.
      4. Your Youth is the best time to learn how to wear the yoke – Lam.3:27,28.
      5. Let God break you & control you now, & the future will be bright.
         1. “God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume--it is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.” Vance Havner
      6. Take Gods yoke upon you – Mt.11:29
      7. His yoke is easy – Mt.11:30 {Often times the yokes had a heavy side}
         1. “The man who surrenders to Christ exchanges a cruel slave driver for a kind and gentle Master whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.”​​​​​​​ A. W. Tozer