Introduction, v. 1
The reference to Jehoiakim is a problem because it isn’t in many manuscripts and doesn’t match with the rest of the chapter, which seems clearly to speak to the time of Zedekiah, not Jehoiakim. This is a likely scribal error.
“The first verse is omitted by LXX. Some Hebrew MSS and the Peshitta substituted Zedekiah for Jehoiakim, which is obviously correct chronologically (cf. Jer_28:1). The mistake probably arose from a miscopying of 26:1.” (Harrison)
The Message to the Nations, vv. 2-11
A. The Messengers from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon
They met with Zedekiah during his 9th year of reign to plot a revolt against Nebuchadnezzar to throw off the yoke of tribute to Babylon.
B. Visual Aid–Bonds and yoke
1. Bonds were leather straps to attach the yoke to beasts of burden.
2. Yoke was wood that went under and above the neck of a beast to pull a plow.
C. The Meaning of the Bonds and Yoke
1. Nebuchadnezzar is the Lord’s Servant, Jeremiah 25:9; 43:10.
2. The nations “shall serve him and his son and his son’s son”: Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-Merodach (Jeremiah 52:31), and Belshazzar (Daniel 5:11).
3. Refusal to serve Nebuchadnezzar will result in death through sword, famine, and pestilence.
D. The Admonishment Not to Believe Lying Prophets
1. Diviners: people who guessed at future by signs in animate or inanimate creation.
2. Dreamers: dream interpreters
3. Soothsayers: divine the future through the flight, color, density, rarity, and shape of clouds.
4. Sorcerers: used spells or drugs to discover mysteries or produce supernatural effects.
The Message to Zedekiah, vv. 12-15
A. Serve the King of Babylon and live.
B. Refuse to serve the King of Babylon and die.
C. Do not believe the lying prophets.
The Message about the Temple Vessels, vv. 16-22
A. The Lie, v. 16: the Temple vessels will shortly be returned from Babylon.
B. The Truth, v. 17: the prophets lie. Serve the King of Babylon and live.
C. The Test, v. 18: test the prophets.
D. The Rest of the Temple Vessels, vv. 19-22
1. In 598-7 BC, Nebuchanezzar took the nobles and some of the temple treasures to Babylon.
2. In 587 BC, Nebuchadnezzar took the residue of the temple treasures to Babylon, see Jeremiah 52:17.
Lessons from Chapter 27
A. We have a better yoke from Christ–>Matthew 11:28-30.
B. Test the message of modern prophets: “In a time of national crisis, religious fakers always flourish because many people want to hear only comforting messages, which may often be untrue.” (Feinberg)