A Future and a Hope

Sermon by Rick Livermore

I wrote this sermon because my wife Janine has shared it with me and lots of other people for years. The context is really interesting.

Jer 29:11

For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you -- an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope. --- Youngs Literal Translation

Jeremiah 29:11 (NSB:NKJV): 29:11 I know the thoughts that I think: The Lord here places considerable emphasis on His unchangeable plan to bring peace and not evil. a future . . . a hope: God had not terminated His relationship with Judah; He remembered His covenant promises of restoration (see Deut. 30:1–10). --- Nelson Study Bible Notes

Jeremiah 29:11 (FSB): 29:11 the plans Yahweh assures the exiles that His long-term plan is good and that He has not abandoned them. Their national calamity would have precipitated feelings of hopelessness and abandonment.  ---Faithlife Study Bible

Jeremiah 29:11 (MSB): 29:11 thoughts of peace. This assured God’s intentions to bring about blessing in Israel’s future (cf. chaps. 30–33) --- MacArthur Study Bible 

Jeremiah 29:11 (SFLSB): 29:11 See notes on Ezra 1:1 and Zech. 10:9 --- Spirit Filled Life Study Bible

Jeremiah 29:10 (WSB): 
29:10–14 God revealed His intent toward the remnant. His plan for them is rooted in His grace and faithfulness to the covenant (Deut. 30:1–10). --- Womens Study Bible 


A Prayer For Hope In Hopeless Times
Jeremiah 32:17–25
Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
—Jeremiah 32:17
Whenever we need hope in a time of hopelessness, we must keep God’s faithfulness in mind as we pray. The prophet Jeremiah had repeatedly warned his people that God would allow the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem as punishment for their sins. Now the time of judgment had come. The siege ramps were being laid against the city walls. The situation was indeed hopeless. Israel was about to be removed from the promised land because of her history of sin (Jeremiah 32:23).

Then God did something very strange. He recommended that Jeremiah invest in some real estate—in Israel! The city was about to be handed over to the Babylonians, and God recommended thatJeremiah buy a field and make sure that the transaction was witnessed and made legal. Jeremiah probably thought God should stay out of the real estate market! Why buy land you’ll never be able to own?
Well, that was God’s point. This was the spark of hope in the hopeless darkness. God was assuring His prophet that He would indeed one day return His people to their land and that His holy city would be rebuilt. The real estate transaction was not pointless; it made a vivid point to Jeremiah and to the people. Punishment would come, but the promise would endure.
The Lord holds us accountable for our sin—the Israelites went into exile because of their sin. But our God is also a God whose thoughts toward us are “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11). We can rely on our God of faithful hope even when our outlook seems hopeless. When our circumstances seem to be going against us, we have hope that they are for a purpose that will benefit us. The New Testament promises that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). When we encounter trouble in our lives, we must remember God’s faithfulness and have hope for the future. --- 

Nelson's Personal Handbook on Prayer, James C. Wilhoit, Copyright 2002, Thomas Nelson Publishing

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