Christians identify with heaven while living here on earth.īased on these parallels and more importantly based on the reality that the Old Testament was written entirely for us upon whom the ends of the ages have come to show us how to live the Christian life (1 Cor 9:10 1 Cor 10:11 Rom 15:4 Heb 1:2), Jeremiah 29 speaks to us as Christians. Hence, we are called exiles whose true home and citizenship are in heaven (1 Pet 2:11 Phil 3:20). The New Testament models the Christian’s existence in the world after Israel’s exile to the nations. The Lord God then tells the exiles how to live as exiles and sojourners in the world. Jeremiah sent a letter to these exilic Israelites, which contained an address from God. While many Israelites lived in exile and awaited their return to the Promised Land under the Davidic King, they for a time sojourned among the nations. ![]() Rather, I am persuaded that the whole Scripture addresses Christians, including Jeremiah 29:11. ![]() Not because I think it wise to ignore the historical context of Jeremiah 29 nor because I am unaware of the land promise to Israel. We may learn some principal lesson here about God fulfilling his promises, but we should not claim for ourselves. So, as the argument goes, Christians should not share this as a promise for them. ![]() Jeremiah 29 is a letter from Jerusalem to exiles, and the promise relates to God’s plan to return the exiles back to Judea after 70 years (Jer 29:10). While almost everyone recognizes the good desire here to share a promise from God’s word, some criticize Christians for doing so. The words Jeremiah 29:11 often encourages believers who experience difficulty, and they in turn share the verse with others to give hope when much in this world seems hopeless. Looking to dig into another popular verse from the prophets, check out our blog on Micah 6:8.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 (Jer 29:11). If you want to better understand the Prophets in their original context, consider applying for our School of Biblical Studies. It is this hope that produces a faithful life in the present, that patiently waits upon the God who pursues our hearts. It was and is a call to the greatest of all hopes: That the God who is with me in my exile has promised me an eternal future. It directs our eyes to look beyond present circumstances towards the promises of God. This is a verse for our own exilic experiences of suffering, disappointment, opposition, and discouragement. It wasn’t written to provide a short term hope in circumstantial change. Jeremiah 29:11 isn’t a verse to guarantee a job promotion, a degree, or the purchase of a new home. He knew that without reconciliation with Him, their hearts would be exiles from home no matter where they lived. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” They wanted to return to the land. Which is why Jeremiah 29:12-13 followed the “popular kid” verse with “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. God knew that although people love the idea of a “quick-fix” to problems and shortcuts to prosperity, what they truly needed wasn’t a geographical relocation but heart transformation. ![]() How to Apply Jeremiah 20:11 in our Lives? A message’s popularity doesn’t, however, dictate it’s truth. It was a different message, and as one could easily guess, a little less popular. Instead of “keep your bags packed ” Jeremiah told them to build homes, plant gardens, grow families, and seek the welfare of the city in which they were exiled. But, instead of two years, Jeremiah told them that their exile would last 70 years. Jeremiah Chapter 29 was a letter addressed to the same audience to which the false prophets were speaking. “Keep your bags packed, no need to submit to Babylon because God’s going to fix all this real quick!” As you can imagine, this was the message everyone was willing to embrace! They assured them that they’d be returning to their homeland within two years (Jeremiah 28:2-4). At that same time, a group of false prophets began to preach a message to the Jews that promised God would “break the yoke” of Babylon.
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