Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"I know the thoughts that I think toward you"
Text: Jeremiah 29:11
A FUTURE AND A HOPE
The LORD gave a tremendous sense of hope and encouragement to the Captives in Babylon. He will give them a future, but they must fulfil their captivity of 70 years.
“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.
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 29:10-11
1. “For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon”
a) The sentence is 70 years.
b) The Captives will have to tough this time out.
c) They must persevere and learn deep lessons in their Captivity in Babylon.
2. “I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place”
a) God will visit His people again.
b) He will perform His good word with reference to them (His promises).
c) He will bring them back to their homeland.
d) They need not fear that they will languish and perish in Babylon.
e) There were many lessons that they may learn in these exilic years.
3. “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”
a) God’s thoughts concerning Judah.
i) They were good thoughts.
ii) They were thoughts of giving them peace.
iii) His thoughts towards them were not evil in any way.
b) God will give them:
i) A future
ii) A hope
c) They would have to exercise trust:
i) In the LORD.
ii) In this word given to them.