Reading
SAA Notes
Letters are so important. They can encourage and greatly bless. Jeremiah writes to the exiles and assures them of God’s providential care and plan – verses 10-14. Jesus repeats verse 13 in His famous words on prayer – ask, seek, knock Matthew 7:7+.
SJA Notes
* Lord God, Your word is often hard for us hear, our spirits are often stubborn. Please help us trust and obey You today and onwards.
“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.”
What is this word from the Lord?
The nation of Israel was in exile, God’s people in a land that is foreign and hostile.
They are in Babylon because of their sin, because of the Lord’s wrath against them.
In this passage we read of God’s mercies, His plans for His people.
And what a hard word this is!
MULTIPLY THERE. DO NOT DECREASE.
But shouldn’t we try and go back home? To the land God promised us?
God is not finished.
“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
You can imagine the hearers – Did I hear that right?
Seek the welfare of this pagan city?
“… For in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
Often we can find it hard to see God’s plans for us, as they work out through our lives.
How can God be at work here in Australia? In the war-ravaged Middle-East, or the broken kingdom of the United States? What about Europe or Asia or Africa, South America?
The answer we read here in Jeremiah is simple.
God is at work. Full-stop. He works for our good. Full-stop.
This is for our encouragement.
Are you encouraged by God’s plans for us that are revealed here in Jeremiah?
* Father God,
Thank You that You are at work right now, as You have been across the ages.
As with the faithful in Israel, so with us Your people today. For Your glory.
Please mark us as humble and contrite of heart.
Amen.