Twisted Scripture - Week 2

Jeremiah 29:11

I. What is the Context of this Passage?

This was written some time after 598 BC, when Jeconiah had been taken to Babylon as a captive. Babylon had invaded Judah twice (605 BC and 598 BC) and each time carried more captives back to Babylon. Jeremiah was writing to those Jews who were captive in Babylon

In verses 5-9, Jeremiah is telling the captives of Babylon to settle down and make themselves comfortable because their deliverance wasnt coming for a long time.

The Jews were captive in Babylon by the will of God in that He was bringing judgment upon Judah for their generations of rebellion against Him.

Jeremiah basically tells them theyre going to be stuck there for a long time (70 years) so it was best for them to settle in and make the most of their situation.

Likely the Jews were afraid to do these things because they did not know how long they were going to remain in Babylon. There were some ‘prophets’ who were telling them that Babylon was about to fall and that they would be returning to Jerusalem soon, but Jeremiah tells them that is not the case.

God, even though He was in the middle of judging them for their rebellion, still wanted them to prosper and do well in the communities that they were placed in. Exile didnt mean God forgot about them or wanted to destroy them.

God instructs them to “seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives”. He wanted them to do good in their communities and be a blessing to their Babylonian neighbors. Ultimately, God placed them in Babylon, and they should seek to be a blessing where they were set. But how?

Pray unto the Lord for it (v.7)

Jeremiah had earlier prophesied of Babylon’s eventual demise, but until that happened, the Jews were to seek the peace of the city they lived in and do it by prayer.

Wherever you find yourself, seek the peace and comfort of those about you

Verses 8-9 - Jeremiah warns them not to be deceived by those telling them that they would soon be returning to Jerusalem and their captivity would be quickly over. They were not sent by God, and Jeremiah’s message was the true one

Jeremiah even pronounced severe judgment upon those so called ‘prophets’ who had been saying that their captivity would be short lived later in the chapter.

II. What Does This Passage Mean?

Here’s where we arrive at the commonly misused verse, Verse 11.

It was part of a promise to Israel that after the 70 years was up, God would end their captivity and bring them back to Jerusalem. So while their judgment would last a long time, it would not last forever.

God would end their judgment because ultimately, like a parent who is punishing their child for misbehavior, He does not want His children to suffer forever, but simply to learn from their mistakes and get better from it.

What do we learn from Verse 11?

1. God thinks about us! (Psalm 40:5)

2. God’s thoughts are toward us! “The Lord not only thinks of you, but towards you. His thoughts are all drifting your way!” - Spurgeon

3. Even if we don’t know what God is thinking, He knows the thoughts that He thinks towards you.

4. His thoughts are of peace, and not evil. It was easy for the Jews to think God was against them and that He intended evil upon them. But God assures them that His thoughts toward them are of peace, and God had a future and a hope for them.

a. God has a future and a hope for His people even when they suffer in exile and even when they hurt under a deserved punishment.

Even in Captivity they had hope because they could pray and He would answer, and they could seek Him and they would find Him. This was the present aspect of their hope

Then after the 70 years, God would gather them all up and bring them back to Jerusalem. This was the future aspect of their hope.

III. How Can We Apply This Passage?

God has good intentions for all His children, but they don’t always happen when you want them to. Sometimes He makes us endure suffering before we get to the blessing.

If you are in a season of suffering/pain, if you are a child of God, it will not last forever. It may last a while, but it will not be this way forever.

God’s chastening is for our good, not for our evil.

Your current environment may not be what you want it to be, but God placed you there for a reason. So as long as you’re there, be a good citizen, and pray for peace

God thinks about you and me! We are constantly on His mind! What love!

The hope we have is in God. He will answer if we pray, He will make Himself known if we seek Him.