Sermon Tone Analysis

Jeremiah 29:1-14

We have been looking at verses that are often taken out of context.

We like to place quotes or Bible verses on Coffee Mugs, planner books, t-shirts, or signs we hang on our walls.

And that is good, there is nothing wrong with this.

Where it becomes troubling is when we take a verse and ignore the context.

Many have created a false theology based on a verse taken out of context.

One of these false theologies is based on this verse from today's sermon.

In her book, “All Shall Be Well: Awaking to God’s Presence in His Messy, Abundant World” Author Catherine McNiel writes about our love of “life verses” and the trouble we create for ourselves when we cling to a particular verse, applying it to ourselves out of context—such as placing it on our coffee mugs!

McNiel compares this to our relationship with social media, where we see pictures of our friends’ happiest moments yet compare them to our mundane and messy daily realty.

Promises in the Bible—like social media posts—need to be considered inside their full, messy, context.

She writes, “Somehow, many of us believe that utmost success and ease are due us, as our life verses seem to promise.

So when the reality of life hits, it feels as though God has done something wrong.

We’re clutching these hopeful Bible verses and browsing page after page of our friends’ bright and cheerful social-media posts, but we’ve never considered the context of any of them.

God’s faithfulness to Israel takes place over thousands of years of slavery, exile, and oppression.

That requires a long, long, surrender before the promise.

God’s redemption of creation is still pending completion”

IN the book of Jeremiah chapters 1-24 there are warnings from God before the exile.

Warnings of judgment and yet of hope

Ch 25 is a transition - Jeremiah announces that Babylon is on its way.

Ch 26-45 Announcements of Judgment and hope for Israel

These chapters are a series of stories about how Jeremiah prophesied and beg the leaders of Israel to turn back to God.

Now in chapter 29 Jeremiah sent a letter to the elders who have now been taken captive in Babylon.

This is the danger of taking verses out of context.

We see a flowery verse - I know the plans I have for you!

Not Evil - Hope!

And we ignore the situation these people have found themselves.

They are discouraged and brought to the lowest point they have ever found themselves.

God sent Jeremiah to give them this message.

And in this message we see an application to our lives.

Yes , this passage was written to the people of the Nation of Judah.

But all Scripture is applicable to us

God has given us these verses that we may apply them to our lives through the Holy Spirit.

I believe I have one application that applies:

When we read these verses in context, we realize that God’s faithfulness transcends our suffering, and that we can persevere through suffering by the strength of His presence.

We see in this passage today two messages given to the elders of the nation of Judah.

In turn these two messages are for us

I.

A Message of Endurance

By this message, God gives them steps to follow to be able to endure this captivity.

4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

The message is clear, they are staying in the captivity.

The message to us is these storms we face, are here to stay.

Oh the different storms may come and go, but the trials will keep coming.

How are we to endure this life of trouble?

To endure we can see the six quick things that God told these people to help them endure:

A. God Knows the Trial

He said in verse 4, “Whom I have caused to be carried away”

None of this has taken God by surprise!

In this case God directly tells these people that He did this as He promised them He would.

They were warned!

In our case, God does not usually plan our trials, but instead will use our trials for our good.

Trials will come no matter who we are or where we live.

but God knows where we are!

He has a purpose, He knows where you are!

He hasn’t abandoned you!

So God knows!

B. Settle Into the Trial

5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

Don’t focus on the trial, and wither away in discouragement.

Settle in, trust the Lord, and do what you know is right to do.

These men and women had to settle in, build houses, plant gardens and realize they were there to stay.

Sometimes we focus so much on getting out of the trial that we miss why God sent in it in the first place.

C. Grow in the Trial

6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

The people here were told to take wives, bear children and increase in number, grow stronger as a nation in the midst of the trial.

Trials are not sent to us to diminish us but to grow us.

Do not waste a trial!

Don’t focus on what is happening so hard that you forget to ask the Lord what He is trying to teach you.

Like gold, our faith is tested in the fire.

As the gold is heated and the impurities come to the surface and can be removed, so in our lives trials pull out that impurity, that dross.

If we allow God to do it, He will remove it from us.

Perfect=mature - God’s plan is for us to grow during trials.

D. Seek Peace during Trials

7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

God is telling them to seek to live peaceably with those who captured them.

Are you kidding?

You want me to seek after peace with this person who has hurt me?

He tells them to pray for their enemies.

This would include their leaders that they do not and cannot agree with.

Our trials may be because of a leader, or another person, but we do not have to be sucked into hatred, Pray for them!

Seek Peace during your trial.

E. Believe God during the Trial

8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

Others will come and prophecy lies, and false things.

Men were coming to those in captivity and telling them, don’t worry this is temporary, any day now God is going to remove you from Babylon.

In chapter 28, Jeremiah describes a false prophet Hananiah who said the the captives and the vessels taken from the Temple would be returned in two years.

Today we are being told by the prosperity gospel that God intends us to live a life or wealth and prosperity.

All we need to do is claim it!

But the Bible says,

Wealth is not the answer to your problems.

Instead follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.

Believe God during the Trial

F. Trials Will Be for Life