October 2021: surviving Babylon Together

 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular scripture that is often quoted by preachers and teachers to assure their congregants that the Lord has a plan for their individual lives.  My Bible Cover even has this inscription on the front. ( For the record, I only bought the Bible cover because it was purple!)

Context Matters

While it is true that the Lord does have a plan for each of our lives, preachers and teachers often neglect to mention the context for this scripture. Jeremiah is writing to a nation that had fallen under God’s judgment and assuring them of God’s promise for their future restoration.

This scripture is part of the letter written by the prophet Jeremiah to the remaining leaders and people in Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar carried them off to Babylon. Jeremiah has to manage the expectations of the captives due to all of the false prophets declaring that Babylon would soon fall and the exile would be over.

Even though he heard directly from God and his prophecies came true, the prophet Jeremiah wasn’t popular with the Israelites because over and over he warned about God’s judgment upon the nation due to their idolatry and what would happen if the people didn’t repent. 

Sadly the people refused to listen to Him and their fate was sealed. They would be taken captive to Babylon.

In his letter to the remaining exiles, Jeremiah tells them that they would not be coming home right away as many of the false prophets were saying (Jeremiah 29:8-9), but that they would be in Babylon for 70 years.  The exiles are to settle down in the land, have families, and seek peace in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:5-7)

God restores his people after 70 years

 

Jeremiah 29:10

10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 

He assures them that even though they have come under The Lord’s judgment, he is still thinking about them and his thoughts are of peace and to give them a future and hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope

We know that Jeremiah’s words did come true and the people returned after 70 years to rebuild the temple and their homeland.  (Read more in  Ezra and Nehemiah).

What would have happened if the people reading Jeremiah’s letter in Babylon had only thought about their own individual hopes and futures and not the entire nation? 

It’s not just about us.  It’s about the community of believers and the world around us.

Practical Application: Surviving Babylon Together

 

"Christians often interpret this as a blanket promise that “good things are right around the corner.” If we just keep a positive mental outlook, we can know that God has #blessings in store.

But contextually, this promise is given to the Jews recently exiled to Babylon. The faithful remnant had heeded Jeremiah’s warnings to submit to the coming judgment, and now in Babylon, they receive a letter from him telling them to settle down there. In the wake of uncertainty and loss, they’re asked to make long-term commitments like marrying, building houses, and planting gardens."
-Hannah Anderson, Christianity today 

As Jesus followers, sometimes it feels like we’re living in Babylon, and the way to survive Babylon is to focus on God's hopes and plans for our future as believers in Jesus.  One day we will experience full restoration!

Until then...will we be like Daniel and stand firm in Babylon or will we be like the Nation of Israel and decide to follow the pagan gods around us?  We see how that worked out for them! 
 

Action Step: Get back into the meat of the word

A great first step to make sure that we stand firm as believers is to return to meaty Biblical teaching and leave the “happy-clappy” teaching back in 2019. People are in desperate need of truth for their lives and not just something to make them feel good. I believe that is one of the major reasons why many people haven’t returned to church post-pandemic. 
 

Much like the exiles in Babylon we are in for even more challenging days ahead.  We don’t want to be like the false prophets in Jeremiah’s day and become oblivious to what the Lord is saying in this hour. This will result in complacency and deception in the church.

While we’re here in Babylon we may as well make the best of it.  We will settle down here, spread the gospel, and let people know that there is a better way.

Let’s make a commitment to make the hope and future not simply about our own individual lives but to make the family of believers and the world around us stronger.

One of the best things I did this year was to commit to a year-long Bible Plan on the YouVersion App.  I love the one with Nicky Gumbel because he and his wife just have the most fabulous British accent!  Highly recommend it if you're looking for a Bible plan!
 

Prayer 

Lord, forgive us for simply focusing on our own individual life plans and futures. Raise up preachers and teachers who know how to rightly divide the word of God so that your people will clearly hear what you are doing in this hour. Strengthen us for the challenging days ahead and may we stand firm in THE TRUTH all of our days.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.