Today's Reading:

Jeremiah 29
Jeremiah 30
Jeremiah 31
Jeremiah 32

In Jeremiah’s letter to the exiled Israelites in Babylon, he told them to seek the peace of the city that had conquered them and to pray for it. “Bless those who curse you.” Then came the famous words of hope: “I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

These words were not for the people who were living in comfort. They were spoken to the people already in exile, far from home, under foreign power, and in a hard season of life. Grace sometimes looks like this. God’s good plans are still in effect, even when the path first leads through difficult times.

When you or someone you love are in a hard season, and nothing feels good, how do you remind yourself (or them) that God’s plan is still good, and it was written just for you?

Jeremiah sent a letter to all who were exiled in Babylon. This took place after King Jehoiachin and the officials and leaders of Judah had also been exiled from Jerusalem. He trusted Elasah, the son of Shaphan (the scribe), and Gemariah with the letter. Shaphan was the scribe who helped Josiah when the Book of the Law was found. Gemariah’s father was from the high priestly line during Josiah’s reforms. They were headed to Babylon anyway (probably to pay tribute) but were both reliable and trustworthy. The letter said that the people would be in exile for 70 years, so they should settle in: build houses, plant gardens, get married, have kids, and pray for the city of Babylon that conquered them. They were to seek its peace. This was the great moment of hope.

Those who did not go into exile would face worse judgment, even though they felt they were the favored ones. God called out two false prophets and said Nebuchadnezzar would roast them alive in a fire as a warning. They were so bad that a pagan king would execute them. The prophets had committed adultery in secret (yet God, being omniscient, knows all that happens).

Jeremiah continued his letter to the exiles and wrote of Shemaiah, a false prophet. Shemaiah had written letters to Jerusalem trying to get the priests, especially Zephaniah, to silence Jeremiah. He accused Jeremiah of being crazy. Zephaniah the priest had sympathy for Jeremiah. Shemaiah had written the letters “in your own name” (acting on his own authority, not as a true messenger sent by God). Instead of acting on Shemaiah’s request, Zephaniah showed Jeremiah the letter. God declared He would punish Shemaiah for his false words and for leading the people to trust in a lie.

God told Jeremiah to write in a book. The next four chapters (30-33) are called “the Book of Consolation.” They focus on hope after judgment. God will break the yoke off their necks, and the strong guys will be doubled over moaning like women giving birth, due to their distress. God would deliver them and break the yoke so that foreign nations could not exploit or enslave them. This was not a gentle unbuckling, but a tearing off. You cannot ignore someone who is wearing a yoke.

In Jeremiah 30:10, God used both the names Jacob and Israel to refer to the whole nation. Using both names pointed to the reuniting of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah in hope. By calling them “Jacob the schemer,” God was saying, “Stop panicking, I am saving you anyway.” Jacob’s name also brought back the intimacy of God’s relationship with His people. They were still family, flaws and all. Through the Book of Consolation there was the coming terror, promised deliverance, broken yokes, and future peace. Then the chapter switched back to the inevitable (war and disease) because they had ignored the warnings. God Himself took responsibility for causing the pain as discipline. “Why do you complain? This is tough love.” Then, in verse 30:17, God said, yes, it is incurable, but do not worry. He will heal you. Imagine having no hope. It is your own fault; you did this to yourself, but do not worry, God will fix you anyway, because you are an outcast. Talk about emotional whiplash. Only God can heal what humans cannot. The rest of the chapter ends with all of the things that God will do for His people: physically rebuilding, bringing joy, multiplying them, providing leadership, raising up a ruler from David’s line (Jesus), and restoring an intimate relationship again. They would not just survive but be upgraded in restoration. At the end they were snapped back to reality with a warning: judgment was not over, but the future generations would look back and understand God’s plan.

Chapter 31 expanded on the hope from chapter 30. God would reunite Israel/ Ephraim (N) with Judah/Zion/Jerusalem (S). They would return from exile at first weeping, in a mixture of repentance, relief, and joy. God would lead them like a father. After the broken relationship, the prodigal son (Ephraim) is welcomed home. This was emotional restoration. Tough love followed by grace. After a promise of a joyful return, Rachel (the matriarch, wife of Jacob/Israel, mother to Joseph and Benjamin), is heard weeping in Ramah (a town in Benjamin where the exiled were gathered to be deported). This showed mourning of the Northern Kingdom that had been exiled to Assyria. “Rachel” weeps because her children are gone, either killed or exiled. God told her to stop weeping, for one day they would return. Ephraim repented like a young bull kicking at its yoke, unruly, but God broke the bull through exile until he learned. God’s heart yearned, literally “My bowels are in turmoil”; His insides were churning with love and compassion. This was intense. It was a new day with new rules, so stop using excuses. God would make a new covenant, based on personal responsibility that leads to obedience. Humans could not fulfill the old covenant, so the Messiah would come to establish a new covenant. This is such an important passage in the Old Testament that leads to the New Testament. The new covenant solves the human side of the problem: their hearts. Sins are forgiven, wickedness is forgiven, and Jesus will do for all of this for us; what we cannot do for ourselves. We receive universal access and complete forgiveness. Jeremiah 31:38 describes a future restored Jerusalem with permanent security, expanding borders, the end of judgment, and lasting hope. This was similar to the vision in Zechariah.

In chapter 32, Jeremiah was in prison because he kept prophesying that they should surrender to Babylon. Even in prison, he kept saying God’s words. Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel, offered him a field due to the redemption laws (Leviticus 25). Jeremiah bought the field. He weighed the money, signed the deed, had it sealed, and had it stored in a jar. He did all of this publicly as a prophetic sign. This was bold, ridiculous faith. Here, Jeremiah was in prison during a siege. It was like buying land in a war zone just because God said it would thrive one day. He would not be able to use the land for 70 years. There were two copies of the deed: one sealed and one unsealed. The sealed copy would be the original binding version of the contract. It would be stored for the long term, in case of a dispute. The unsealed copy was for the public record so it could be checked if needed. Jeremiah gave both copies to the scribe Baruch for safekeeping, like a notarized copy today and a photocopy for the files. Jeremiah wondered if this was a smart choice, but he followed and obeyed God. He trusted in God’s long-term promise that He would one day restore them, and do it with joy!

Today's Discussion question:

When you or someone you love are in a hard season and nothing feels good, how do you remind yourself or them, that God’s plan for is still good and it was written just for you?

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