Jeremiah wrote,
29 vs. 1
Now, these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah wrote
We’ve seen Jeremiah 29:11 on Facebook and Instagram on T-shirts and plaques, but does anyone know why Jeremiah wrote this letter?
Jeremiah 29:11 “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.”
Jeremiah the prophet
So we see in verse one He’s writing a letter from God to those in exile.
The following two verses (Jeremiah 29:2-3) are about the Letter sent from the appointed Hands to the receiving established Hands. When God has a message for you, He gets it right when you need it most.
(The Lord is giving this for Jeremiah to write down)
Jeremiah 29:4
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
When you’re in a battle, the Lord of hosts is who you want, leading you.
LORD of hosts” occurs some 261 times in the Old Testament
“LORD of hosts” is “God of the armies of heaven.”
This may help you understand the context of chapter 29.
The Jewish people were captive in Babylon by the will of God, in that He was bringing judgment on Judah for their generations of rebellion against Him. In God’s plan, they would be in Babylon for a certain amount of time, so it was best for them to make the best of their lives for their families when they were there. Exile didn’t mean God forgot about them or wanted to destroy them in that place.
God wanted them to do good in their communities and be a blessing and a witness to their Babylonian neighbors. Ultimately, God caused them to be in Babylon, and they should be a blessing where they were set to seek the peace (shalom)of the city. They were yet proclaiming the good news that God’s rescue was coming.
He is faithful in every trial, and his promise to bring them out came true.
While they lived in that pagan environment, God warned the people in His letter not to listen to false lies and false prophets’ bringing false hopes.
“They prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them.”
Deception is the Devil’s character, and trying to look prophetic is pathetic.
The false prophets were lying, promising a quick return from exile.
God didn’t want them to have false hope.
They were told the truth, and the enemy plays with your patience when you’re in the battle of waiting.
Isaiah 40:31 Amplified Bible
31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.
Have you ever gotten so caught in a hard place that you wondered if you could escape? Have you ever waited so long for a promise to be manifested that you lost hope? Have you had many times that you got your hopes up so high and then crashed? Are you grieving over loss, and nothing feels right?
Please read these next verses with an open heart and mind even in the darkest moments when scripture is the only light that leads us out.
Hope deferred makes the heartsick Proverbs 13:13
Jeremiah’s letter is written for you,
This is the reason for 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD:
God said you are on His mind you are in His thoughts
He hasn’t forgotten you.
Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope:
These are not empty words when they hit the heart for truth from God’s mouth because they set a release in motion.
This Hope is connected to your future. Not your past.
Hope for the future.
29:12
You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
He’s listening to you when you are alone and praying. He hears your heart crying out to Him.
29:13
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart:
He’s saying I will be there for you
29:14
I will bring you back from your captivity
Free from bondage, held captive no longer, you are free again.
God has a plan for our lives; regardless of our current situation, He can work through it. We must know that we are valued by our Father God, even how He thinks toward us, for peace (Shalom), not just without war but with safety. It means total completeness, happiness, and healthy soundness in your mind. And not of evil means nothing of distress or calamity, no wickedness.
His thoughts show us the Hope we can receive for our future is in His Hands.