Week 31 - Day 2

Jeremiah 27-29; Psalm 119:121-128

*Click here to read these passages:

Jeremiah 27-29 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 119:121-128 YouVersion(NIV)

Jeremiah chapter 29 has one of the most quoted verses in the Bible: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

In fact, this was a favorite verse of mine when I was a younger, but I never really knew the context the verse was in.  First of all, in this verse God is speaking to the Israelite nation.  And there are two words from Jeremiah 29:10 that throw an interesting perspective to Jeremiah 29:11 – “seventy years.”  God said, “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.”

Verses 12 and 13 are important as well.  “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Don’t get me wrong – Jeremiah 29:11 contains a great promise.  It shows of God’s love and mercy, and it reminds us that God is in control and has a plan for us.  But knowing the context now, I can see that it is so much more than that.  I think it is important to realize that this promise was coming before 70 years of captivity in a foreign land.  God promises hope, but doesn’t promise that it will be easy and doesn’t promise that it will happen right away.  I think it is also important to realize that the “hope” and “prosper” part God promised came about when they started seeking Him with their whole heart.

One more interesting thing from Jeremiah chapter 29 is that God told them to really do life in Babylon – to settle down, build houses, work, marry, have kids.  He said, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.  Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Some false prophets had told them they would get out in a couple years, but God said, no – you’re going to be there for a while.  And although it was not their “home” and would even be considered enemy territory, God said to pray for the city and its peace and prosperity.  Would we do that if we were sent to another city in another nation?  Do we do that in our own city and in our own nation?