SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 29
MEMORY VERSES:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lords, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 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.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
A LETTER TO THE EXILES (vs. 1-23)
Instructions of the letter to the exiles from Jerusalem to Babylon:
- Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. (v,. 5)
- Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. (v. 6)
- Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. (v. 7)
- Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them. (vs. 8-9)
- When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. (v. 10)
- To the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and i will make them like poor figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. They will be abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth and an object of cursing and horror , of scorn and reproach among all the nations where I drive them. (vs. 16-18)
- To Ahab and Zedekiah who are prophesying lies to you in my name, I will hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon and he will put them in death before your very eyes For they have committed adultery with their neighbor’s wives and spoke lies in my name. (vs. 21-24)
MESSAGE TO SHEMAIAH (vs. 24–31)
Message of God sent to the exiles concerning Shemaiah:
“Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has led you to believe a lie, I will surely punish Shemaiah and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good things I will do for my people because he has preached rebellion against me.” (vs. 31-32)
THOUGHTS:
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE CAPTIVES IN BABYLON?
- Accept without complaining.
- Be patient to wait for God’s time.
- Trust God to work out his purpose. He will see us through in glorious conclusion.
- Avoid believing in false hopes.
God planned that His people will have a future and a hope. The exiles were in a difficult situation. But they need not despair because God’s presence was with them. When face with physical problems, persecutions or sorrows, we need not fear if we seek him wholeheartedly. Nothing can break our fellowship with God.
Shemaiah discredited Jeremiah by accusing him of false prophesy. As a result, the people hated him. Jeremiah’s truth from God offered temporary correction and long range benefit but false lies offered only temporary comfort but long range punishment.