I Have a Plan for You

Context

Trust the Promise. Last week: ISAIAH called to preach the word to God’s people, even when he felt unworthy. The promise: I PURIFY YOU.

This week we read a selection from the prophet JEREMIAH. The promise: I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOU.

Jeremiah, a prophet. Called in 627BCE (about 60 years after the death of Isaiah) — when he was about 17 years old. Jeremiah 1:7. Jeremiah 1:10. Served over 40 years. During that time, He witnessed the unfolding of the prophecies of Isaiah — the invasion of Jewish land by foreign powers and then exile.

Jeremiah’s overall message compared the relationship between God and Israel as a kind of marriage. God was a faithful partner, but Israel constantly cheated on God through idolatry — worship other, false gods. The unavoidable consequence of this sin was a rupture in the relationship. But God, loving his people so much, would overcome the estrangement and bring his people back into a whole new and deeper covenant relationship.

Jeremiah personally witnessed Israel’s idolatry; Babylon’s invasion; King Nebuchadnezzer’s relocation of Jews from Judah to Babylon.

God then charged Jeremiah to write a word of hope for God’s people exiled in Babylon.

We read an excerpt from the letter Jeremiah wrote:

Text

Jeremiah 29:10-14 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

Introduction

Woody Allen — If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.

What is God like then? Indifferent. Hostile to our hopes and dreams? Ah, Jason’s got plans,…let me just derail him.

Many people think that God is indifferent or even hostile…but what does the Bible really teach us?

Ancient Problem - Exile Shock

In the 7th century BCE, the ancient Jews experienced one of the most traumatic events in their history up to that point — the invasion of a foreign power and the deportation of Jews out of the Holy Land God had given them.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his forces took control of Israel and started waves of deportation of Jews from their homeland.

Jews of all classes — had their lives uprooted.

Wealthy reduced to poverty. Poor to servitude.

Intelligentsia drafted into the service of Nebuchadnezzer. Like Daniel, who served in the court of Nebuchadnezzer.

Land owners, working someone else’s land.

Artisans making and selling items that were of foreign design, sacrilegious to the jewish mind, but have to make a living.

Young couples, trying to raise their kids. Kids learning a strange language, custom, and religion.

All of them viewed as aliens, non-citizens.

Worst: no temple in which to worship their God.

God not only seemed far away, they believed he actually was far away.

Today we think of the one God as everywhere, omnipresent. We inherited that belief from the Jews who had to struggle to learn it. In the ancient world, gods were local. God’s of Egypt, of the Philistines, of the Egyptians, were all local. So was the God of Israel. He was in Jerusalem at the temple. When the people went to Babylon, they were literally cast away, far away from their God.

Deep pain and confusion: There was a plan. We were the chosen people. Light to the nations. We blew it. Now exiled. All the plans are cancelled.

Current Problem

Better example: At the traffic light a song came on by Duran Duran, “Ordinary World” — “Where is the world that I recognize, gone away. But I won’t cry for yesterday, there’s an ordinary world, somehow I’ve got to find”. Made me think of my mom. Her experience in Korea. Where is the life that I recognize. Were we right to take these orders with our sons so far away now? What is going to happen next? The plan?

I also think of some visitors we had at church in 2020. The pain of people whose church closed during COVID. They felt lost and some wondered, what should we have done better or differently to not have this outcome?

We’ve all experienced similar feelings.

Various problems. Loss of a job. Divorce. Addiction. Serious illness. Legal/financial problem. Death of a loved one. Where is God? Far away. I am cast out? What is the plan?

Danger is despair: there is no good future ahead of me...

An experience of God’s people. Get through by God’s word.

Hinge:

When God’s people feel far away and life seems out of control, God sends word. He has Jeremiah write a letter. Sends it to the far-away.

Ancient Solution

Jeremiah 29:10“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place…for I know the plans I have for you…for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God says clearly and surely: there IS STILL a plan. A good plan. A plan rooted in my desire for your welfare, to give you a future, hope.

God is speaking as a loving husband to an estranged wife. We can and will get through this.

Plan rooted in God’s promise.

Promise of Deuteronomy. When you reject me. There will be exile. But then I will restore you.

Deut. 30:3 “then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.”

God foresaw it all. 800 years earlier. The apostasy and sin. The judgment. The exile. And he had already determined what he would do. He would redeem and rescue. The people were surprised, but God is not surprised.

I will bring you back. Back to Jerusalem, temple, life, relationship with me.

A new and deeper relationship. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you.

Not as if he does not hear them, for he does, that is why he sent Jeremiah. Rather, I will hear you means that they will sense his nearness and his attentive ear.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. A new condition of the heart for them: no longer divided between the LORD and pagan gods. All in all, you will feel me nearer and you will be more committed to me when all is said and done.

Ezekiel gives a famous and similar promise: I will take you hearts of stone and give you new hearts. Hearts of flesh.

A transformative time for others too. Notice: The 70 years FOR Babylon. The 70 years they will have you. While you are in exile, You will be a light to Babylon Jer. 29:7. Exposure to the true God. This was true of Nebuchadnezzer, became a believer through the ministry of Daniel. His proclamations exposed vast regions of his empire to the true God who was without borders or limitations.

Even in exile, you are still — right now— my people.

God says, my plan is greater than this problem. My plain is rooted in love that will outlast this exile. Right now, you are still my chosen ones.

Current Solution

God sends word to us.

He speaks through the Scriptures, through preaching, through community, we should make the time to listen.

Read the Bible every day. We need to hear his word to counteract the feeling that we are far away, unseen, uncared for. Surprised just how often there is a word there for you that you needed.

There is a plan. Good plan.

When I was struggling with new job and house and setting, a co-worker gave me a plaque. I looked at it most days. Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Plaque that a co-worker gave me.

A more expansive promise given to us children of the new covenant. Romans 8:28. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” What things? All things, even our mistakes and sins and those of others and the events of the world around us.

My plan is greater than any problem you are going through.

God will restore us to an even deeper relationship than we had before.

Romans 8:29 “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” More like Jesus!

A deeper prayer life. Greater dependence on God’s grace. More passionate life of worship. Grateful for blessings we enjoy.

A good friend of mine, had a very difficult physical challenge. Leg constant pain. Interfered with sleep, work, even with coming to church. For about a year. From that, he reported, a deeper compassion for people who struggle with chronic sickness.

We still God’s people even in exile.Even right now, you are my chosen one. 70 years. Weeks, months. Who is watching, learning, maybe seeing God through you right now.

Example of a woman who lost her son, second son, husband. Kept showing up to church. Felt like she was barely making through. Her presence encouraged me: grace sufficient.

Conclusion

If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.

When we are awash in tears and fears, God tells us about his plans.

Pastoral Prayer

Almighty God, gracious Father, in the presence of your bounty keep us humble, in the presence of all people’s needs make us compassionate and caring. Give us faith in our praying and love in our serving, knowing that by your power all may find a new balance in living and a new victory in adversity.

We pray for all unhappy lives, those who are bitter and resentful, feeling life has given them a raw deal, those who are sensitive to criticism and quick to take offense, those who desire their own way, whatever the inconvenience or cost to others. May your judgment and mercy be for their healing. We pray for those who are lonely, who are shy and self-conscious, who find it hard to make friends; those who are nervous and timid, who ever feel themselves strangers in a world they can scarcely understand. May your presence inspire confidence and ensure companionship.

We pray for those who live with bitter regrets, for loving relationships brought to ruin, for opportunities freely given and woefully abused, for the bitterness of defeat or betrayal at another’s hand, or for failure in personal integrity. May your grace give new hope to find victory in the very scene of failure.

We pray for all in illness and pain, weary of the day and fearful of the night. Grant healing, if it be your will, and at all times through faith the gift of your indwelling peace. Bless the company of Christ’s folk, the church in every land. Make her eager in worship, fearless in proclamation of the gospel, and passionate for caring.

Bless our country. Bless our leaders. Bless our children and grant us peace within our borders. Grant us as a nation to be found effective in establishing peace throughout the world.

Bless us, each one, in the communion of the saints, and keep us ever mindful of the great cloud of witnesses that, following in their steps, as they did in the steps of the Master, we may with them at the last receive the fulfillment promised to your people. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Welcome

In the name of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, I know the plans I have for you, plans for good, to give you a future and a hope. Grace and peace be with you.

Confession and Assurance

Call - I saw a lifeguard go in after a child. She had been blown out too far. He brought her in. God brings us back when we have been pulled away.

Assurance - I will lose none of those whom the Father has given me.

Children

Use the App - Find My. I can see where my daughters are. Safety. I will always do what I can to help them and support them.

Offering

What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me? I will give what I have promised in the presence of all God’s people. (Ps. 116) Guest: do not feel obligated to give, but welcome.