Text: Jeremiah 29:11-13

Introduction: Have you ever failed? Failed the Lord? Israel did. But God wasn’t finished with them…..neither is He through with you!

The context of Jeremiah’s writing takes place to address the people of the southern kingdom of Judah (605 B.C.), which were in trouble because of their idolatry and immortality, and downright negligence (Lev 25). Consequently, the prophet announces the discipline of the Lord would be coming…..in the way of 70 years of bondage in Babylon.

1. Jeremiah’s CALLING (Jer 1:5)

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained[1] thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Contrary to the political perspective from a liberal view, life begins at conception. Here is the proof…actually, from our Lord’s perspective, it begins before that. David also describes the miracle of birth in Psalm 139.

2. Jeremiah’s CONDITION! (Jer 3- 17)
Jeremiah cannot keep silent. His spiritual discernment led him to denounce the wickedness and evil that was prevalent during that time. Lies, cheating, adultery, bribery, greed, and injustice was filling the streets, even spiritual hypocrisy among the Jews seemed to be the norm. It takes a live fish to swim against the current of apostasy.

Personal Application: Any time a perverse culture calls “good evil” and “evil good” you can expect a backlash of persecution if you go against the grain of society. Even the best of CHRISTians today are compromising their convictions when it comes to carnality and worldliness. Even though the Jewish people would not listen to the warning of the prophet, he must stay true to God’s calling in his life.

3. Jeremiah’s CONFINEMENT! (Jer 20)

This world is not a “friend of grace”! No wonder Paul writes, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” (2 Tim 3:12).

4. Jeremiah’s COMFORT! (Jer 29:11-13)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

• The word “peace” is šā·lō·wm שָׁלוֹם֙, which means completeness, wellness, safe, favor
• The word “expected” is wə·ṯiq·wāh וְתִקְוָֽה׃, which means thing that I long for, things hoped for

Personal Application: God the Father’s great redemptive love was demonstrated in His merciful chastisement on Israel in allowing them to be taken into captivity for 70 years (for every year they failed to allow the land to lay rest – Lev 25). However, after the allotted punishment, Israel would be restored to their land and yield a peaceful fruit of righteousness.

This New Testament principle is found in Hebrews 12:5-11:

“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”