I Know the Thoughts I Have for Thee

In her book, “All Shall Be Well: Awaking to God’s Presence in His Messy, Abundant World” Author Catherine McNiel writes about our love of “life verses” and the trouble we create for ourselves when we cling to a particular verse, applying it to ourselves out of context—such as placing it on our coffee mugs! McNiel compares this to our relationship with social media, where we see pictures of our friends’ happiest moments yet compare them to our mundane and messy daily realty. Promises in the Bible—like social media posts—need to be considered inside their full, messy, context. She writes, “Somehow, many of us believe that utmost success and ease are due us, as our life verses seem to promise. So when the reality of life hits, it feels as though God has done something wrong. We’re clutching these hopeful Bible verses and browsing page after page of our friends’ bright and cheerful social-media posts, but we’ve never considered the context of any of them. God’s faithfulness to Israel takes place over thousands of years of slavery, exile, and oppression. That requires a long, long, surrender before the promise. God’s redemption of creation is still pending completion”

IN the book of Jeremiah chapters 1-24 there are warnings from God before the exile.

Warnings of judgment and yet of hope

Ch 25 is a transition - Jeremiah announces that Babylon is on its way.

Ch 26-45 Announcements of Judgment and hope for Israel

These chapters are a series of stories about how Jeremiah prophesied and beg the leaders of Israel to turn back to God.

Now in chapter 29 Jeremiah sent a letter to the elders who have now been taken captive in Babylon.

This is the danger of taking verses out of context.

We see a flowery verse - I know the plans I have for you!

Not Evil - Hope!

And we ignore the situation these people have found themselves.

They are discouraged and brought to the lowest point they have ever found themselves.

God sent Jeremiah to give them this message.

And in this message we see an application to our lives.

Yes , this passage was written to the people of the Nation of Judah.

But all Scripture is applicable to us

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God has given us these verses that we may apply them to our lives through the Holy Spirit.

I believe I have one application that applies:

When we read these verses in context, we realize that God’s faithfulness transcends our suffering, and that we can persevere through suffering by the strength of His presence.

We see in this passage today two messages given to the elders of the nation of Judah.

In turn these two messages are for us

I. A Message of Endurance

By this message, God gives them steps to follow to be able to endure this captivity.

4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

The message is clear, they are staying in the captivity.

The message to us is these storms we face, are here to stay.

Oh the different storms may come and go, but the trials will keep coming.

How are we to endure this life of trouble?

To endure we can see the six quick things that God told these people to help them endure:

A. God Knows the Trial

He said in verse 4, “Whom I have caused to be carried away”

None of this has taken God by surprise!

In this case God directly tells these people that He did this as He promised them He would.

They were warned!

In our case, God does not usually plan our trials, but instead will use our trials for our good.

Trials will come no matter who we are or where we live.

Job 14:1 KJV

1 Man that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble.

but God knows where we are!

Romans 8:28 KJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

He has a purpose, He knows where you are!

He hasn’t abandoned you!

So God knows!

B. Settle Into the Trial

5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

Don’t focus on the trial, and wither away in discouragement.

Settle in, trust the Lord, and do what you know is right to do.

These men and women had to settle in, build houses, plant gardens and realize they were there to stay.

Sometimes we focus so much on getting out of the trial that we miss why God sent in it in the first place.

C. Grow in the Trial

The people here were told to take wives, bear children and increase in number, grow stronger as a nation in the midst of the trial.

Trials are not sent to us to diminish us but to grow us.

Do not waste a trial!

Don’t focus on what is happening so hard that you forget to ask the Lord what He is trying to teach you.

1 Peter 1:7 KJV

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Like gold, our faith is tested in the fire.

As the gold is heated and the impurities come to the surface and can be removed, so in our lives trials pull out that impurity, that dross.

If we allow God to do it, He will remove it from us.

James 1:2–4 KJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Perfect=mature - God’s plan is for us to grow during trials.

D. Seek Peace during Trials

7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

God is telling them to seek to live peaceably with those who captured them.

Are you kidding?

You want me to seek after peace with this person who has hurt me?

Romans 12:18 KJV

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

James 3:17 KJV

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

He tells them to pray for their enemies.

This would include their leaders that they do not and cannot agree with.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 KJV

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Our trials may be because of a leader, or another person, but we do not have to be sucked into hatred, Pray for them!

Seek Peace during your trial.

E. Believe God during the Trial

8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

Others will come and prophecy lies, and false things.

Men were coming to those in captivity and telling them, don’t worry this is temporary, any day now God is going to remove you from Babylon.

In chapter 28, Jeremiah describes a false prophet Hananiah who said the the captives and the vessels taken from the Temple would be returned in two years.

Today we are being told by the prosperity gospel that God intends us to live a life or wealth and prosperity.

All we need to do is claim it!

But the Bible says,

1 Timothy 6:9–11 KJV

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Wealth is not the answer to your problems.

Instead follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.

Believe God during the Trial

F. Trials Will Be for Life

It’s a life sentence, I’m afraid!

10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

There is a message of hope in this verse He will perform His good word toward them, causing them to return from this place.

They are getting out (as a collective group of people.)

But if we look closer the promise is this will happen in seventy years.

All the elders will be dead and gone, most of their children will be dead and gone, many of their grandchildren will be dead or at least elderly.

This is a life sentence.

Although this must have been discouraging to hear, it is also a testimony to them to focus on those who are coming behind them.

Don’t focus on the trial, focus on your testimony and obedience!

There are others coming behind you!

They need to be in a place to follow and obey God based upon your example!

Matthew 5:16 KJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Others are watching you through your trial, give them a good example of trust and obedience!

God through Jeremiah, gives them a Message of Endurance, then he gives them a...

II. Message of Expectation

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

God has in mind an expected end for His children.

Notice three reminders that God gave them real quickly in these verses:

A. An Expected End

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Its a reminder, just like in verse 4 - God know where they are now, but he also know their expected end.

His thoughts toward us are of peace.

He does not want us to go through this life, through these trials in torment.

He wants us to have the peace that He has promised us.

Peace is a fruit of walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

He wants us to have a peace that know one around us can understand!

Philippians 4:7 KJV

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God knows what we are going through!

The second reminder He gave us through Jeremiah is that there is a

B. A Purposeful End

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

This was the purpose of the entire trial!

That you would call upon God, and He would hear you!

You see the peace that passes all understanding is promised, but this only comes by obedience to the verse before it

Philippians 4:6 KJV

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Don’t be anxious, but pray!

God knows…He has a purposeful End for this Trial!

Call on God, Seek after God during the trial, and you will find him.

But you cannot be half hearted about this…the verse says “when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

God commands us to love Him with everything in us!

Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

His Purposeful End is for you to find Him!

And then the third reminder He had for us, is the reminder of a

C. A Glorious End

He will turn away our captivity!

This for us points to that wonderful final day when we are taken home!

One day He will gather us from every nation and He will bring us home!

We will all gather together and worship Him who freed us from this world of sin.

John saw this gathering in Revelation 7:9

Revelation 7:9 KJV

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Oh What a Glorious End!

One day we will look back at the trials and tribulations of this life, and we will see his Guiding Hand all through out!

Verse 1

Someday life's journey will be o'er And I shall reach that distant shore I'll sing while ent'ring Heaven's door Jesus led me all the way

Chorus: Jesus led me all the way Led me step by step each day I will tell the saints and angels As I lay my burdens down Jesus led me all the way

Until that Glorious End, may we continue to follow this advice that God has given us

Remember God Knows Where you are!

Settle in, these troubles are not going to go away permanently!

Grow in the Trial! Allow God to work through it to His Expected end.

Seek Peace during the Trial, stop fighting…and seek peace!

and Keep Believing God during the trial!

Let’s commit today that no matter what may come, we will trust in the Lord!

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