Jeremiah 19:4-14 Exiled but not forgotten

Do you ever feel you are wandering? Aimless? Having no significance? Life has passed you by? Like you are in exile?

You are not alone. Many have been where you are. A whole nation experienced this very thing. They went from being on top of the world to being nothing. In exile. The people? Judah. They have lost all they held important. Some were responsible for this exile because of their sin. Some were innocent and merely the victims. But for whatever the reason, all of them were now in exile.

Exile. What is it?

From Run with the Horses by Eugene Peterson:

Exile is traumatic and terrifying. Our sense of who we are is very much determined by the place we are in and the people we are with. When that changes, violently and abruptly, who are we? The accustomed ways we have of finding our worth and sensing our significance vanish. The first wave of emotion recedes and leaves us feeling worthless, meaningless. We don't fit anywhere. No one expects us to do anything. No one needs us. We are extra baggage. We aren't necessary.

The experience of exile happens in our individual lives. Happens in our life as a church.

Change occurs. Everything feels different. We long for the old days. We may not know how to cope. We wonder about the future. We feel forgotten and adrift.

Let’s look at what God has to say to them – to us.

Even in the midst of it all God has a plan for you. You are not forgotten

(ESV) Jeremiah 29 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: … 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. 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.

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes …

I. You are not forgotten: Even in exile, continue your life

A. To people in exile every day things are to continue

(ESV) Jeremiah 29 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.

1. When faced with unexpected trouble

a) Evaluate ourselves and the situation

(1) it might be God getting our attention – if so get it right

(2) It might be the fault of others – refrain from bitterness

(3) It might be so that He receives glory in our lives (think Job – radical reason that was unknown to him – give glory to God because He is God, not because He has blessed us with things)

(4) It might be for reasons unknown – Remind ourselves that He knows and cares for us and His character is good

2. Life is not over. Life is to go forward – don’t withdraw from living

3. Only God has the right to end life (in death or withdrawl) / we need to live whatever is our life for His glory

B. To people in exile ministry is still important

7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

1. Keep an external focus – don’t focus inward

2. Concern for others ultimately has self benefits as well

C. To people in exile God is still there

(ESV) 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.

1. Expect God’s activity in His timing – even if you don’t feel like God is at work

2. God will visit you

a) God visiting – redemption / restoration / self revelation

D. To people in exile God will yet fulfill His plans for you

(ESV) 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.

1. Know God’s promises to you will yet unfold – the exile is not the end of His plan for you -even though it might feel like it is

II. You are Not forgotten: God Himself has developed a plan for you

A. God Himself developed the plan

(ESV) Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the plans (KJV Thoughts) I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

1. Emphatic I / I alone / I Myself know the plans

2. Well thought out by God

3. Personalized plans – unique to you

B. A plan for prosperity

(ESV) Jeremiah 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.

1. Peace – shalom - prosperity

2. Not want to harm you – regardless of how it feels

3. Even His discipline is not intended for evil but part of His child rearing – to make you what He wants you to be (in this case the nation will never again have the problem of idol worship)

C. A future full of hope

(ESV) Jeremiah 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.

1. Has a future in mind for you and will give it to you

2. Have the long range perspective – sometimes uncertain in the now

3. Embracing this unseen plan is called faith

a) In exile live expectantly

b) Trust He is

c) Trust He will reward those who seek Him.

III. You are Not forgotten: God’s intent is that you seek Him

A. Come to Him asking

(ESV) Jeremiah 29 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes …

1. “You must turn to me and ask for my help, then I will hear you”

2. Turn to him for help.

3. Must truly seek Him – whole heartedly (not half way as with those who tried to worship Yahweh and idols)

4. Choice to come

B. He will respond

(ESV) Jeremiah 29 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes …

1. He will Listen - It means to heed or to respond to,

2. he will himself take action and make it possible for them to find him (emphatic)

3. Whole hearted response to Him required

4. He will be found – He has gone nowhere

C. He will restore

(ESV) Jeremiah 29 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes …

1. I will let you find me. If serious

2. When you find Him, you are restored

3. Restore the broken life – find shalom “peace”

In the midst of times you feel in exile:

Know He is greater than our failures

Know He has a plan for prosperity for you

Know His desire is that you would seek Him – First/Foremost –

And He will bless you as you respond

You may be exiled, but you are not forgotten