Jeremiah 29:11 is not about me. The focus is not even the Israelites.
The focus is completely on God and His gracious loving heart. A heart full of compassion. So forgiving.
I read chapter 29 in Jeremiah with fresh eyes a few weeks ago. I've grown up with this verse (it was one of my grandma's favorites). But I saw the verse from a whole different angle this time. And it really is necessary that verses 12 and 13 are read with Jeremiah 29:11 and also must be read in the context of the preceding verse, (preferably the whole book). I can read this following passage with the focus on me or I can read it with the focus on God. And from reading through Isaiah and the majority of Jeremiah, the focus definitely needs to stay on God. Listen to God's heart as He makes this incredible promise to His people who will return from being exiled (which was a result of Israel's continual sin and adultery/betrayal of their God, the one true God who has blessed them and pursued them for generations):
"For thus says the Lord, 'When seventy years have been completed
for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill and fulfill My good word to you,
to bring you back to this place. 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. Then you will call upon Me and come and
pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me
search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you..."
That floored me. Incredible promise yes. Applicable to me/us? Definitely.
But when I put the focus on God, His heart, and His character... He reveals more of Himself to Me, which propels me into a deeper desire and passion to seek Him... with all my heart.
The focus is completely on God and His gracious loving heart. A heart full of compassion. So forgiving.
I read chapter 29 in Jeremiah with fresh eyes a few weeks ago. I've grown up with this verse (it was one of my grandma's favorites). But I saw the verse from a whole different angle this time. And it really is necessary that verses 12 and 13 are read with Jeremiah 29:11 and also must be read in the context of the preceding verse, (preferably the whole book). I can read this following passage with the focus on me or I can read it with the focus on God. And from reading through Isaiah and the majority of Jeremiah, the focus definitely needs to stay on God. Listen to God's heart as He makes this incredible promise to His people who will return from being exiled (which was a result of Israel's continual sin and adultery/betrayal of their God, the one true God who has blessed them and pursued them for generations):
"For thus says the Lord, 'When seventy years have been completed
for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill and fulfill My good word to you,
to bring you back to this place. 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. Then you will call upon Me and come and
pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me
search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you..."
That floored me. Incredible promise yes. Applicable to me/us? Definitely.
But when I put the focus on God, His heart, and His character... He reveals more of Himself to Me, which propels me into a deeper desire and passion to seek Him... with all my heart.
Sadie,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog for Nov.
Keep up the writing.
Sue