When A Nation Forgets God

Jeremiah 29:4-14

Introduction

Psalm 9:17 reminds us:

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

When a nation forgets God, what are God's people supposed to do?

That is exactly where we find Jeremiah 29.

Judah had spent generations drifting from God.

The warnings of God's prophets had gone largely unheeded.

Now Jerusalem was in ruins, the Temple had been desecrated, and God's people were captives in Babylon.

To the casual observer, it looked like Babylon had won and Israel was finished.

But appearances can be deceiving.

centuries earlier God had made a covenant with Abraham:

Genesis 12:2–3 “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Though God was chastening His people, He had not abandoned them.

Babylon could conquer Jerusalem, but Babylon could not conquer God or cancel His promises.

The Jewish people were still God's covenant people, and God still had a future for them.

Understand this morning God's discipline is not the same as God's rejection.

Into that setting God sends a message to His people both then and now, explaining how we are to live When a Nation Forgets God!

I. Submit to the Sovereignty of God

(v. 4)

Notice who is speaking.

The first words are: “Thus saith the LORD..."

It was not Jeremiah telling them his opion of what they were to do

It was not some earthly king giving his earthly decree

It was God almighty!

Though the Temple was behind them and Jerusalem was in ruins, God was still speaking.

When society becomes confused and unstable, God's people need a Word from God more than ever.

Notice also: “whom I have caused to be carried away"

Babylon did not do it, they were only the instrument.

God was in control

The captivity was evidence of God's faithfulness to His warnings, not the failure of His covenant.

The same God who promised blessing to Abraham also promised chastening for disobedience.

Lev. 26:27-33

Leviticus 26:32–33 “And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.”

Look up here, God keeps both His promises and His warnings.

Application

God is not surprised by national decline. Dan. 2:21

God has not surrendered His throne. God is still in control; Psalm 45:6 “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:…

A nation may forget God, but God has not forgotten how to rule.

If we are going to live in a nation that has forgotten God, We must Submit to His Sovereignty

II. Serve Where God Has Planted You

(vv. 5-6) “Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them..."

The captives wanted escape.

God told them to settle down.

He said Build ye

God did not tell them to quit.

He did not tell them to retreat.

He told them to build.

Keep investing. Keep working. Keep serving.

He said Plant ye

Planting requires faith.

Nobody plants a garden expecting it to fail.

If we are not planting seeds we are saying God has failed.

Faith plants. Fear panics.

He said Take Ye

"Take ye wives...that ye may be increased there"

Babylon was not supposed to stop God's people from being God's people.

Application

Build godly homes.

Plant seeds of faith

Raise children for Christ.

Stay faithful in church.

Continue serving regardless of cultural conditions.

God did not tell His people to curse Babylon. He told them to remain faithful in Babylon.

III. Seek the Peace of the Nation God Has Put You In

(v. 7) “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives..."

The word "peace" carries the idea of welfare, flourishing, prosperity, and well-being.

This command is astonishing.

Babylon destroyed their city.

Babylon carried them into captivity.

Yet God said: “Seek the peace of the city."

Refuse Bitterness

The easiest response would have been resentment.

But bitterness never advances God's kingdom.

Be a Blessing

God's people are called to be salt and light.

Wherever God places us, we should improve what is around us.

Engage Without Bowing Down

Daniel serves as the perfect example.

He served Babylon faithfully without becoming Babylonian.

Application

Be good neighbors.

Serve your community.

Help others.

Let Christ be seen in your conduct.

God's people should not merely survive in society; they should seek to be a blessing to society.

IV. Seek God’s Face for the Nation

(v. 7b) “and pray unto the LORD for it"

Notice God's command.

Before criticizing Babylon, pray for Babylon.

Pray for its Protection

Complaining is easy.

Intercession is harder.

Yet prayer was God's first instruction.

Pray for its Leaders

Paul echoes this command in 1 Timothy 2.

Pray for its Revival

The greatest need of any nation is not political recovery.

The greatest need is spiritual awakening.

Application

Pray for government leaders.

Pray for churches.

Pray for families.

Pray for revival.

Pray for the salvation of souls.

The captives could not control Babylon's government, but they could pray to Babylon's Judge.

V. Steer Clear of False Security

(vv. 8-9)"Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you..."

The people preferred comforting lies to difficult truth.

False prophets promised quick solutions.

God called for patient faith.

Deceivers as Prophets

Immediate deliverance

Easy answers

No repentance required

Dreams as Visions

Politics alone will save us

Culture will fix itself

Morality can survive apart from God

Application

God's people must be people of truth.

Even when truth is uncomfortable.

False hopes always produce spiritual disappointment.

VI. Stand on the Promises of God

Jeremiah 29:10-14

A. God's Promises Are Certain (v. 10)

Notice the language:

"I will visit you"

"I will perform my good word"

Not "I might."

Not "I hope to."

Not "We'll see."

God speaks with certainty.

The Jews were looking at ruined circumstances.

God was pointing them to an unbroken promise.

Preaching Truth

Circumstances may change.

Governments may change.

Cultures may change.

God's promises never change.

Cross References

Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18

Application

When a nation forgets God, believers must learn to live by promises instead of headlines.

A. God's Promises Are Certain

B. God's Purposes Are Good (v. 11)

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you..."

Imagine hearing this in Babylon.

The captives may have wondered:

Has God forgotten us?

Does God still care?

Is there any future?

God answers: “I know."

The Jews did not know.

God knew.

Notice Three Things:

God's Knowledge

"I know"

Nothing was hidden from Him.

God's Intentions

"thoughts of peace"

Even discipline was working toward His ultimate purpose.

God's Future

"to give you an expected end"

God already saw the restoration while they were still in captivity.

Application

We often judge God by our circumstances.

God asks us to trust His character.

A. God's Promises Are Certain (v. 10)

B. God's Purposes Are Good (v. 11)

C. God's Covenant Is Unbroken (vv. 10-11)

The Jews were under discipline.

But they were not abandoned.

The captivity did not cancel God's covenant.

Scripture

Jeremiah 31:35-37

God had not forgotten Abraham.

God had not forgotten Israel.

God had not forgotten His promises.

Preaching Thought

Babylon could destroy walls.

Babylon could burn buildings.

Babylon could carry captives.

But Babylon could not overturn a covenant made by Almighty God.

We need to understand something this morning; God still blesses those that bless His people.

I dont have to support the govenment of Isreal to support and defend the people of Isreal.

They are still God chosen people and the moment we turn our backs on them God will turn His back on us.

Application

The same God who keeps His promises to Israel keeps His promises to His children.

A. God's Promises Are Certain

B. God's Purposes Are Good

C. God's Covenant Is Unbroken

D. God's Presence Is Available (vv. 12-14)

Notice the progression.

"Then shall ye call upon me"

"and ye shall go and pray unto me"

"and I will hearken unto you"

"And ye shall seek me"

"and find me"

This is the heart of the passage.

The answer was not returning to Jerusalem.

The answer was returning to God.

Four Steps:

Call Upon Him

Repentance begins with prayer.

Pray Unto Him

Not ritual prayer.

Heartfelt prayer.

Seek Him

Not merely God's blessings.

But God Himself.

Find Him

What a promise.

God promises to be found by those who seek Him.

Key Verse: “when ye shall search for me with all your heart"

Half-hearted seeking never produces revival.

Wholehearted seeking does.

Conclusion

The Jews thought their greatest need was freedom from Babylon.

God knew their greatest need was fellowship with Him.

And the same is true today.

Our greatest need is not a better economy.

Our greatest need is not a better election.

Our greatest need is not a better culture.

Our greatest need is a renewed pursuit of God.

When a nation forgets God, the answer is not found in the White House, the courthouse, or the statehouse.

The answer is found in the prayer house.

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