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Jeremiah 29:1-14 (New International Version)

Jeremiah 29
A Letter to the Exiles
1 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin [a] and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:

4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.

10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 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. 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 seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. [b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

Michelle Kang
ID: 1239515
November 4, 2007

The Prophets: Jeremiah 29:1-14

Observations:

By whom was this written?
This passage was written by the prophet Jeremiah.

To whom?
This passage was written to the people of Jerusalem in Judah, to all the surviving elders among the exiles, to the priests, the prophets, and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Where does this fall in Israel’s history? What do we know about what’s happening in Israel?
In Israel’s history, this letter is written at a time when King Nebuchadnezzar has taken captives from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. This is said to have taken place between 605 B.C. and 516 B.C.
We know that Israel has been taken over by Babylon and it is a time of weakness for Israel.

How would you describe the tone of this passage – rebuke, exhortation, comfort, woe-to-you, etc.?
The tone of this passage is best described as exhortation. Jeremiah is clearly encouraging the people of Israel by reminding them of God’s promises for the nation of Israel.

What does it reveal about Israel?
We know that Israel is falling further and further away from God and distancing in their relationship with God, and that it is Israel’s sin that is pushing them farther and farther away. The passage also reveals that Israel can seek deliverance and hope if they seek first, the Lord.

What does it reveal about God?
This passage reveals that God has plans for the nation of Israel. It shows that God knows exactly what is going on with the whole Babylon ordeal and He has plans to prosper to Israel, but first he wants Israel to come back to Him. It reveals the mercy that God has toward His people despite the sin that has separated Israel from Him. It shows that he has a special covenant with Israel and promises to deliver them. The passage reveals the love that God has for His people.

Interpretation: (What would the original audience understand as they heard this passage? Specifically with the Prophets, what does this passage tell us about Israel’s behavior in her covenantal relationship with God and about God’s response to His people?)

The original audience would understand that God has plans in store for them and that they have hope in Him. The passage tells us that Israel has fallen away from God and failed miserably in her covenantal relationship with God. This passage shows that God still loves His people and seeks to provide for the nation of Israel.

What is God correcting or reproving in this passage?
God is correcting Israel for the sins that they have committed. He has banished them from Jerusalem, but has given them the hope of prosperity. He is making the paths of the people of His nation straight, that they may be ready for His blessings when the time is right. He is teaching the people of Jerusalem to depend on Him, and to keep sight of the glory that is to be revealed, instead of fearing or hating the Babylonians as the Israelites are being held captive by them.

What is God teaching/revealing about Himself in this passage?
God is showing that He truly cares for His nation. He cares for His people so much that He is disciplining them by allowing them to be taken under by the Babylonians. He is also showing His grace and persistency as He promises to be with them and provide a future for them. The way that he reassures His nation of these plans shows that the purpose for this is so that the nation of Israel could prosper, and that His name would be made known to all the nations. God makes a promise to His people, and this passage is showing God’s care.


What ought to change based upon the truth of this passage in the nation of Israel? Behavior? Thinking? Perspective?
Israel should change the way they behave by following God’s command to settle and increase. They shouldn’t be discouraged, and they shouldn’t curse the Babylonians. God tells Israel to be optimistic and look toward the prosperity that is to come. God also calls Israel to be holy. He calls them behave accordingly and change from their sinful ways. God’s very promise to provide them a prosperous future shows that He wants to use Israel to represent Himself to all the nations, that He may be known. This means Israel shouldn’t take this lightly, nor should they be discouraged. Rather, they should rejoice because God is on their side, and they should be charged to change and represent the Kingdom of God.

Application:

In the prophetic genre, in what ways might we be susceptible to what God is addressing in Israel?
We should look at our sins and see that they are what distance us from God. Also, we shouldn’t be discouraged if we are going through difficult times. We should look to God and see that there are bigger plans for our future. We could see that things happen in His time, not ours, and that the struggles we may be going through could be that God is training us for His glory to be revealed through us. We can also be encouraged by the promise that God made to be found by us if we seek Him with all our hearts. We should be encouraged to set our paths straight and seek God.