Jeremiah 29:1-32
Q.1. When was this message given and to whom? What was God’s instruction to the exiles? How did God encourage them? – (Jer.29:1-14)
Jeremiah had been kept well informed about the captives who had been taken to Babylon under the rule of King Jeconiah, who only reigned three months. He was also named Jehoiachin and was the son of Jehoiakim (Jer.29:1-2 c.f. 2 Kgs.24:8-16; Jer.24:1; Mt.1:11-12). Jeremiah sent this letter to the elders, the priests, the prophets and the captives in Babylon, to counteract the fake assurances from the false prophets, that there would be a speedy return to Judah (Jer.29:1-4). God told Jeremiah to write a letter, telling the exiles to settle down in Babylon, build homes and gardens, and to marry – and multiply there and not decrease (Jer.29:6). His advice was – 7 Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare (Jer.29:7). God had not sent the false prophets. Their message needed to be rejected because there would be no restoration until the seventy years of captivity were completed (Jer.29:8-10). Christians often claim this promise for themselves, but God gave it to Judah in their particular situation – 11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile’ (Jer.29:11-14). God was punishing His people, but He was far from finished with Israel.
Q.2. Did the promise apply to those remaining in Jerusalem? What had God planned for the king and his family? What would happen to the false prophets and priests? – (Jer.29:15-32)
The message to those remaining in Jerusalem was starkly different from the one to those in captivity. God had dealt severely with the previous kings of Judah, Jehoiakim and Jeconiah, but Zedekiah had still continued to ignore God (Jer.29:15-16). Consequently, the king, the people, and the city would experience – … the sword, famine, and pestilence … because they have not listened to My words … which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets (Jer.29:17 & 19 c.f. Jer.24:8-10). The adulterous false prophets were named and denounced – ‘… who have spoken words in My name falsely, which I did not command them: I am He Who knows and am a witness,’ declares the Lord (Jer.29:23 c.f. Jer.29:21-23). God denounced Shemaiah who had undermined the message of Jeremiah to the exiles and had encouraged the priests remaining in Jerusalem to persecute His prophet (Jer.29:24-28). Upon receiving Shemaiah’s instructions – Zephaniah the priest read this letter to Jeremiah … (Jer.29:29). Jeremiah sent a letter back to Babylon declaring – … thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants; he will not have anyone living among this people, and he will not see the good that I am about to do to My people,” declares the Lord, “because he has preached rebellion against the Lord (Jer.29:32).