Jeremiah 29

In this chapter is the most popular verse in the Bible these days: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (v11).  I wonder about several things.

I often wonder if the myriads of believers who have made this their life verse understand what God is saying.  Historically Judah was in the midst of being abused by the Babylonians.  In 597 BC Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:10-16).  He did not destroy the city, but he did carry off its wealth and its leading citizens.  This was the time when Ezekiel and Daniel were taken to Babylon.  This letter in Jer. 29 was written to all those people.  In Babylon false prophets (they are everywhere!) were telling them not to submit to Babylon.  They were told they would soon return to Jerusalem.  Jeremiah is telling them the opposite.  They need to settle down, make homes and families, and seek the good of Babylon.  “In its peace you will have peace.” (v7)  The “future and hope” God offers them is 70 years in Babylon and the destruction of the city they loved.  So I ask, do you claim this verse as encouragement so you can accept something
difficult from God?  Or is it an attempt to hold God to giving you only those things you enjoy?

I wonder if this is the verse we would quote to believers who are losing their lives for the name of Christ.  Would this be the verse you would quote to the grieving parents who just learned of their sons death?  Perhaps when you quote this verse you are thinking of our future life in heaven.  That is certainly a great hope.  Jesus encouraged His disciples with the promise of a future hope (John 14:1-3).  But again, this is not what God was telling the people of Babylon.  He was telling them what they needed to do in this life in order to have His blessing.   Jesus did the same for His disciples when He told them, in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).  Now that is a great life verse.

I also wonder why we might choose this promise over the promises of judgment that also come from God.  Do you remember Jeremiah 24 and the two baskets of figs?  That is the set-up for this letter.  God promised blessing on the people taken to Babylon; He promised harm to the people left in Jerusalem.  I am only pleading that we be people of the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).  We must accept all that God says to us, to the Church, the Body of Christ.  We are quite unwise to assume that His words to captive Judah are ours for the taking.

Having said this, which you might consider a bit cranky, may I say that the words of 24:4-7 have great application to us today.  We too live in a country where we are not citizens.  As we make disciples, and as we look for a more permanent country, let us live for our Lord where He has placed us.  Let pray for those over us, that we might serve and worship God (1 Tim. 2:1-4).