Week #21: Jeremiah 29:11

Week of May 24-30

"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]

NOTE: Here is a brief overview of Jeremiah:

In chapter one the LORD called Jeremiah to be a prophet to Judah. The LORD immediately says what will happen to Judah (1:13-16) and why (1:16 and 2:13). He also promises to protect Jeremiah from the unbelieving and rebellious kings, princes, priest, and people (1:17-19).

Jeremiah’s message was that Judah has forsaken the Lord and turned to idols (2:11-13), and she is worse than Israel was 125 years ago (3:6-11). God, through Babylon, will severely discipline her (19; 20:1-6). If Judah will submit to Babylon, God will allow her to remain in the land; but if Judah resists, he will bring catastrophic destruction upon her (27:1-11). Judah did not repent, nor did she submit to Babylon. Therefore, God kept his word. He catastrophically judged Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and sent his people into slavery (32:17-36; 39; 52). The book of Lamentations (we will memorize from Lamentations next week) is Jeremiah’s sorrowful poem describing the results of Judah’s choice for idolatry instead of God.

Along with the prophecy of judgment, God also promised to restore Israel to her land sometime in the future. That promise is the New Covenant (31:31-34 , through the blood of Christ). At that time the Hebrew people will know and love God’s word; they will have eternal salvation and relationship with the Lord; and the Lord will have forgiven all their sins.