therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed; he shall not have a man to dwell among this people, neither shall he behold the good that I will do unto my people, saith Jehovah, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah.
not . . . a man to dwell-- (Deu 28:18). not . . . behold the good--As he despised the lawful time and wished to return before the time God had expressly announced, in just retribution he should not share in the restoration from Babylon at all. rebellion--going against God's revealed will as to the time (Jer 28:16). Next: Jeremiah Chapter 30
But we may deduce from this passage a useful doctrine, — that nothing is more pestiferous in a Church than for men to be led away by a false confidence or trust. For it is the foundation of all true religion to depend on the mouth or word of God; and it is also the foundation of our salvation.
This dreamer Shemaiah got wind of my letter and flew into a rage, not because he could answer it with truth, but because it exposed him. Rather than defend his false prophecies, he takes pen in hand and stirs up the priests to come after me, writing as though he were dictator to all mankind. That is the mark of a man who knows his ground is rotten.
AI summary
Commenting on Jeremiah 29:24-32