Why does Jeremiah say to Hananiah, “Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD make the words that you have prophesied come true”?
Jeremiah responds to Hananiah’s message in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD.
He says to Hananiah, Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD make the words you have prophesied come true.
Jeremiah’s response is very measured. He has a longing to see Judah restored (see Jeremiah 8:18–9:1; Jeremiah 14:7–9; Jeremiah 17:16) and his own message speaks of restoration (Jeremiah 27:22). He can therefore sincerely agree with Hananiah’s message of restoration. It is significant however that Jeremiah does not refer to Hananiah’s words about breaking the yoke of Babylon which Hananiah repeats in an emphatic way in Jeremiah 28:10–11.1 This highlights again the significant and decisive difference between the message of the two prophets. Has the Lord’s judgment in the form of Babylonian dominance over Judah run its course? How someone answers this question is crucial because the answer will determine whether repentance is needed or not.
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.