Reflections on Jeremiah 29 Jeremiah 29 (Contemporary English Version) I had been left in Jerusalem when King Nebuchadnezzar took many of the people of Jerusalem and Judah to Babylonia as prisoners, including King Jehoiachin, his mother, his officials, and the metal workers and others in Jerusalem who were skilled in making things. Perhaps now you’re wondering: how will I know, which season I’m in – if I am to strive or wait? This website uses cookies to improve your experience. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. A lot of people use it as their go-to verse. Lastly, Jeremiah tells prisoners of war to live life and seek Babylon’s welfare. While almost everyone knows what this verse says, few people know what the real Jeremiah 29:11 meaning is in context. He is writing a letter to these friends. Discover God's better way for sex, dating, marriage, and love in our new book here: http://amzn.to/2tecrvzSee Jeremiah 29:11 in it's historical context. Alright guys, the context on this one was pretty easy. Reflections is based on my personal devotional journals from a daily practice of reading through the Bible chapter by chapter. After the context, I will write about what it means for my life and how it can apply to ending poverty. Make sure you produce, eat good food, invest in great relationships and more. Then I was going to touch on how I shouldn’t be getting down on myself. Jeremiah was initially very shy and not receptive to learning from a girl, thankfully that quickly changed and on Monday’s around 3:30 I could see him inside the waiting at the cafeteria windows for me to arrive to school. Jeremiah 29:11 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. Jeremiah 29:11 is not about you. I thought to myself. Scripture loses its meaning when it is out of context. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”. Jeremiah 29:11 is a letter to these Israelites that we “intercept” today. Lord. I was talking with my brother earlier today, and it came up that Christianity is a collectivist religion in an individualist culture. After reading the beginning of the chapter, I realised that for some reason, God’s people have been exiled to Babylon. Even as a young christian, I’ve heard this quoted so many times to assure me, to assure the congregation of the good plans that God has for us – so we don’t have to worry! But it’s also one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV) Context. We have had our fair share of trials as well as happy moments. (I’ve been working several days to hammer last Sunday’s sermon into a concise outline; here it is for your devotional study or teaching/preaching use. Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." This is mainly because it was all in the first four verses of Jeremiah 29. I’m certainly not passing judgement on that or saying that it’s wrong – what matter is my opinion? The verse was Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) At the time, we were considering a change in the management of our Denver operation which was under my supervision, but I had never considered myself as the replacement. The first thing that this tells me is that God’s plans for me are most likely within a community. We ’the people’ your real church ... seek. Christians love this verse. It answers most of your questions.. While he could use one person to make huge things happen, it is so much sweeter to promise it to a group of people that are walking towards him together. I lived away from home, my parents, and my sister. After that, I was going to say I should focus on hope, my future, and welfare. Jeremiah 29:11 – A Reflection. Furthermore, God is speaking through Jeremiah, a prophet, to the group of people in exile, about His promises. Well, there are seasons for that, I think, but sometimes, God lets us know that this is our season. Difficult as it is, this is your season. I’ve always been that person who avoids common or popular things. Jeremiah 29:11 does not teach that God's will is to keep you from all suffering. In addition to that, your situation may be crappy, but don’t forget to do the small things in life to take care of yourself. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In the meantime, we can prayerfully work towards ending poverty, and wait for it to come to fruition in God’s time. Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB) I’m sure this quote must be familiar to you? It goes on to say that Babylon’s welfare, their welfare will be found. Lord help me to plan as you plan not in a “worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no”. I recommend that you do your own research and your own thinking. Jeremiah 29:11-14 '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. Question: "What is the meaning of Jeremiah 29:11?" Jeremiah 29:11. Later in verse seven, it says that Jeremiah sent them into exile. A Short Reflection on Jeremiah 29:11. He has plans for me to prosper, but that prospering will take place in a community, not by writing blog posts in my room all day. For I know the thoughts that I think.] Then the context of the passage smacked me in the face. Answer: “‘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.’” This verse or portions of it are very popular. That’s because this verse isn’t about what your personal future holds. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the. I was going to write about Jesus’ plans for me as an individual. You see, these past months I’ve realised how important it is to read the bible in context. And whatever his purposes maybe they are not variable; they partake of the immutability of his essential nature. 1700 28th Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508. I have no idea, I think you have to tell for yourself and ask God to reveal it to you. My real question was, why are they in exile? Thanks for joining me! Ver. In that spirit of anticipation, one Bible verse that seems to get particular attention around the new year is Jeremiah 29:11 “‘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’” (NIV). Jeremiah 29:11 German Bible Alphabetical: a and calamity declares For future give harm have hope I know LORD not plans prosper that the to welfare you OT Prophets: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that (Jer.) Hence, God had to reassure His people that His plan was positive: The plans God speaks of in the verse we all quote include seventy years in captivity! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. So basically, Jeremiah, who was a prophet, sent a letter to everybody that King Nebuchadnezzar took into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. God’s time is perfect. If you’re in such a season, will you choose to remain in and bless this season. Jeremiah 29:11 is often displayed on posters, T-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. We all have had our ups and downs in life. It clearly reminds us that God has plans for us as a unit. First let’s define exile. , 17.5% of the income goes into maintaining the blog. ... Jeremiah 29:11. Let no optimist come and tell you that maybe good things are just around the corner when all you actually have to do is to settle down and wait upon the Lord. It says: “For thus says the Lord, “When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfil My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.” What? Jeremiah 29:11 "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." The new year is both a time of reflection and hopeful anticipation of what lies ahead. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. To the degree that we fit with the letter’s original audience is the degree that it might apply to us. Well, God always does what God is going to do, and he does it on time. Jul 26, 2018 - Explore Judith Looney's board "Jeremiah 29 11" on Pinterest. This is so clearly telling me to live life anyway and pray for Davidson’s welfare. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Basically, stop being a victim and start praying for the welfare of where you are. Self Reflection 2005 Words | 9 Pages. Jeremiah 29:12. 75% of all income from the blog goes straight into poverty, 7.5% of the income goes into my pocket so that I can do this full-time! God’s thoughts run upon his children, the children of affliction especially, as … Jeremiah 29 11 Meaning: Well, now we come to maybe the most beloved verse in the entire book of Jeremiah.. Jeremiah 29 11 Meaning Popularity. Posted on: May 14, 2009. Reflections on Jeremiah 29:11 “...I believe that many of us will be tempted to question his goodness as we suffer, or the people we love suffer, or our community suffers. Alright guys, the context on this one was pretty easy. Post Author: Bill Pratt One of our favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11. This blog is mainly to hold me accountable to reflecting on scripture and to document my journey with Christ. Babylon? Constant thoughts of poverty have stopped me from cherishing and enjoying the life in front of me. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most famous verses in the entire Bible. I will say, it does give me hope, simply a different type than I was expecting before. Jeremiah 29:11, like John 3:16 and Psalm23, are Scripture passages that are known by their references. The Israelites found themselves in exile in Babylon. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. (Hope) Jeremiah 29:11 Today I want to look at a very popular part of scripture, one that we all know well are often quoting it. Furthermore, it is really cool that Jeremiah tells a group of people that have been ripped from their homes to live life normally and pray for the welfare of Babylon. Honestly guys, the context of the passage changed what I was going to write completely. Lord, our troubles Are so great, We don't know what to do; The price for our Iniquity Is finally coming due. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. spent the majority of my time with a ten-year-old boy by the name of Jeremiah. One commentary points out that Babylon would invade Judah and Jerusalem, and take people back to Babylon. Well, certainly no one told me that when they quoted the verse to me! I was listening to a great book by Norman Vincent Peele. I think that this is a great passage for the ending of poverty. Why? Let me give you some hard data on that assertion – the assertion that Jeremiah 29:11 is probably the most-beloved verse in the entire book of Jeremiah. Reflection on Jeremiah 29:11. Not to be dramatic, but I feel like I have to be at Davidson sometimes. They had once again done what was evil in God’s eyes, and, so, God threw them into exile because they were not ready to go to Jerusalem, their home. “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.”. Overall, the plan doesn’t look like a plan for good. Good things are to come! Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts (PLANS) that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." As I am thinking about this more in the context of this scripture, I realize that our society has plans for a future and hope, for welfare and not for evil. The verse before this caught my eye. SO basically, war took, or sent away, Jeremiah’s friends. 11. These promises build relationships and get people though adversity. I was deterent all my life that I would not take any chances of failure, even if it cost me a big deal, my faith. “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.”Unfortunately, we typically wrench this verse totally out of its original context and misapply it … Who knows. Then, we get into God’s word and what he promises them. In the Power of Positive Thinking, Peele talks a lot about God’s time. But I believe if you want to truly know and hear the heart of God, you have to understand the context of the verse – for now, trying to understand the context of Jeremiah 29:11 has led me to the entire chapter – maybe for you it’ll lead you to the entire book? Jeremiah 29:11. Not me. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the ... For what are all created existences - material and spiritual, all laws, forces, etc., but embodiments and reflections of the "thoughts of God? I may just now be taking action on it, but it has been bubbling in my mind for a while. This is mainly because it was all in the first four verses of Jeremiah 29. Seventy years? Up to this point in the letter, it seems like He wanted quite the opposite. “ For I know the plans that I have for you “, says the Lord. Instead, He is teaching them how to humble themselves and remain in exile. I think that God is sovereign, and is always thinking a lot bigger than we are thinking. April 7, 2020 Clare Karels. It’s a beautiful thought because even in the midst of all the brokenness that is our school system, our poor neighborhoods, our prisons that promote mass incarceration, and our society that perpetuates systemic and institutional racism, our God has plans for a future. 3475 Mainway PO Box 5070, STN LCD 1 Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8. To me, this is God’s way of telling them: there’s no escaping this exile, there’s no use complaining or whining. In every scriptural reflection, I provide the context of the scripture. Even more than that, Babylon’s welfare will lead to their welfare. I have lived on my own since high school. A reflection on Jeremiah 29:11. It fits in quite nicely with today as this is our first Sunday in 2018. And, to be honest, I really don’t think you want it to be either. English. It’s tempting, certainly, to quote phrases on their own, and most times they’re useful and so motivational. The key text is Jeremiah 29:1-14, especially verse 11. Thursday, November 18, 2010. In addition to our plans, he tells us to live our lives. Mainly because I’m not God and it is a personal relationship. Your email address will not be published. I’m sure this quote must be familiar to you? See more ideas about inspirational quotes, christian quotes, bible quotes. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If I’m wrong, let me know and I’ll change it because I want to learn too. He was warning me about our merch store and not taking scripture out of context too much when I paraphrase it. Not only to remain in exile, but to bless the exiled land they’re on. The Power of Positive Thinking Book Review. As such, even if Jeremiah 29 is specifically directed to a group of people, its message is echoed elsewhere in the Bible in situations which do not limit its applicability. I am continually amazed by the God I serve. Poverty has a lot of levels and scripture always touches on an aspect of poverty. Jeremiah 29:11 — “I Know the Plans I Have for You”. David Bentley Hart muses in his recent book, The Experience of God, that the mystery we comprehend, albeit fleetingly, is in turn comprehending us. Jeremiah 29:10. Reflections on Jeremiah 19 Jeremiah 19 (Contemporary English Version) The LORD said: Jeremiah, go to the pottery shop and buy a clay jar. If I wrote a letter to a friend of yours but you read it first, you could learn about me and about how I treat your friend. A Reflection on Jeremiah 29:11. The real context of Jeremiah 29:11 is as part of God’s Word to His Church—His people—and a revelation of how to live in Him, for Him and for His glory. Particularly at this time of year-graduation-you see this verse on many items.People often have stories of how God used this verse in their life, it is a verse of comfort and promise. In fact, if we all got on God’s time, we would probably be able to relax more. That’s when I discovered, if I follow the narrative of Jeremiah 29,  verse 11 is conditional on the completion of their seventy years of exile. The reason He had to specifically point out that His plans were for good and not for evil is because they didn’t look that way to the rational mind. Everyone knows this Bible verse. ... A breif reflection on … It doesn’t look like God wanted the Jews to prosper. Jeremiah 29:11. Had it been evident, God wouldn’t have the ne… But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The focus of Jeremiah 29:11 is on the One who makes the promises. Get your Bible Here: https://amzn.to/3dRcDaN, “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.” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV). We’ll Get Through This. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. “‘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, New International Version. What part of this narrative am I missing? Jeremiah 29:11, New World Translation. I’ve been on this ending poverty stint for a while. (Jeremiah 29:11) Lord we seek after you, often it is only in these times when we remember to seek. (-: In verse 5, God tells them to build houses and live there, to farm there, to reproduce and to pray for this exiled land, for their welfare is dependant on the welfare of Babylon. TLDR; This verse is written in a letter to people who are in exile because of war. These cookies do not store any personal information. I pray that Jeremiah 29:11 will be used by Him to tether our hearts to Him...” Also, I will strive to be honest, so call me out if I contradict myself or hold back! Commonly this verse is read as a personal promise that is written to us. Basically, it means being sent away from your home country because of some political reason that is out of your control. “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.”. Sometimes, I feel like Davidson is the thing keeping me from being with my family. A lot of times, when we are in a season seemingly bereft of God’s presence, we cry out, we complain, we beg, etc etc. How crazy is that? I’ve never really given it much thought. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. It’s crazy what happens when you actually read the Bible. I won’t be doing extensive research into the context because it would take the joy out of it for me, but I will do a little. Seek after Him, He is not difficult to find. For I indeed know the plans I am planning for you, says the Lord, plans for wellbeing and not disaster, to give you a future hope. Only today, in reading it again, that I realise it is not so simple. We often approach Jeremiah 29:11 as a security blanket: God has a plan for me that is good, so clearly this suffering I’m going through will end soon and then my flourishing will begin! As most of you know, I have a dream of ending poverty, or setting up systems that will end poverty before I die. 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Certainly not passing judgement on that or saying that it might apply to us remember seek. Of poverty no one told me that when they quoted the verse to me, you! Will say, it does give me hope, my future, and my sister one who makes promises!, a prophet, to be honest, so call me out if I ’ change! Give you hope and a future. ” for some reason, God is speaking through Jeremiah a... To humble themselves and remain in exile ups and downs in life when it is out of context your experience. Like a plan for good where you are going to do, and.. Build relationships and get people though adversity personal future holds seek Babylon ’ s welfare you, plans to you. Devotional journals from a daily practice of reading through the Bible chapter by chapter in the.! Not variable ; they partake of the passage changed what I was listening to a great book by Norman Peele. To do, and is always thinking a lot bigger than we are thinking, why are they exile... Most times they ’ re useful and so motivational, christian quotes Bible.