Truth and meaning are becoming increasingly blurred in the present day. The paradox is that this is happening at a time when the world is characterised by the rapid advancement of information technology. Yet it is precisely in this context that evil refuses to lose its foothold. It comes to present a voice that leads people astray and misleads their thinking. A variety of hoaxes mislead those who are easily swayed, as the packaging of such information is extremely attractive and appealing. Wisdom is needed to distinguish truth from falsehood in this age of information overload. 

In the passage we are reading today, a conflict between two voices, both claiming to speak the truth, also comes to the fore. The first side is represented by Hananiah son of Azur, a prophet from Gibeon. He prophesied in the Temple before the priests and the people. He claimed to bring a message from the Lord that within two years, the yoke of the King of Babylon would be broken and all the spoils of the Temple, as well as the captives, would be returned. 

It was at this point that Jeremiah stepped in to refute Hananiah’s view, which was entirely devoid of truth from the Lord. Interestingly, he began his argument by affirming a hope that was, in fact, contained within Hananiah’s statement. He said, “Amen, may the LORD do so!” However, what Hananiah had ultimately expressed was a personal hope rather than the truth coming from the Lord; it was from this point that the war of words between Jeremiah and Hananiah began. In the end, the Lord intervened by declaring the truth: that He would, in fact, intensify the judgement upon Judah. 

Listening to Hananiah certainly feels easier, as he speaks words that are so soothing to the heart. This contrasts with Jeremiah’s calls up to this point, which have focused on repentance and the consequences of failing to repent. Yet such is the nature of truth: it differs from positive thinking crafted to soothe a troubled heart; rather, it springs from His Word, which sometimes unsettles the heart and manifests as a stern call to repentance. That is the truth which serves as our guide, originating from the Lord. Admittedly, it is not always pleasant or heart-stirring, but His truth always transcends our personal feelings. Be on your guard against deception and information intended to throw us into confusion.