Promises and Plans

O. T. #1789 "Promises and Plans"

Sept. 30, 2020

Jeremiah 29-Part 2

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.  (Verse 11, NIV)

LET IT GLOW 

Some of us are at the age where we are making plans for our retirement or
at least our future. They are good plans for us to enjoy, not harm or evil. 
Well, God gave the Jews an insight to His plans for them, although they 
were living in foreign lands. His plans and promises can apply to us, also. 

I always thought that the people of Judah who were taken away to Babylon as 
captives were slaves there. However, some commentaries say they were deportees. 
The Jews were allowed to live in their own settlements. They were free to build 
homes, marry, and settle down in Babylon, just as Jeremiah encouraged them to do. 
He advised them to interceed in prayer for Babylon and be loyal to her, living in peace, 
which preserved the Jews for 70 years. Remember, there were many people who 
remained faithful to God through it all. They were the returnees of over 46,000 people. 

Now then, shall we take a look at some promises God gave His people there? We 
find them in verses 10-14. God said He would:

• Visit them after 70 years;
• Perform His good Word toward them, do all the good things He had promised;
• Cause them to return to Jerusalem. (verse 10)

Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we can trust Him to keep His
 promises to us. Our God is a Promise Keeper. What He says He will do, He does. 
Doesn't that thrill your heart? Can you look back on your life and see the faithfulness of God? 
I certainly can! His compassions fail not. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

LET IT GROW 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, smith the Lord,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (V. 11)

This is a well-known verse. There are some words we need to look at
closer because we hear this verse using different words from another
version.

Thoughts refers to intention, plan, purpose. 
Peace is well, happy, prosperity, rest, wealth, health. 
Expected means hope, live, thing that I long for. 
End is future, reward, prosperity. 

Here is one version from New American Standard:
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. 

The most popular one is our key verse, NIV. 
God is our leader here who encourages us to
move ahead, believes we can accomplish
the task He has given us, and who will be
with us all the way.
God knows our future, so His plans for us
are good and full of hope. This doesn't mean
that we will not experience suffering, pain,
or hardship. God will see us through to a
glorious conclusion.

Do you need a new beginning, a future and
a hope for both? Trust God to give it to
you, for He gave it to the Jews in Babylon.

LET IT GO
Please give us a new beginning, a hope for
a good future, Jesus.
Heaven is our ultimate expected, good future.
We can trust Your promises and plans for You
are faithful and kind. All You do is for our good
and Your glory.