Speaker: 00:00:00

This is The Dwelling Place

from Entrusted Ministries.

2

: 00:00:02

I'm Stephanie Hickox.

3

: 00:00:04

As we dig into Jeremiah 25 through 30

4

: 00:00:06

I'll share with you why getting ripped

off on my honeymoon reminds me of

5

: 00:00:09

how people misapply God's promise

in Jeremiah We'll also ask, does

6

: 00:00:15

this verse still apply to us today?

7

: 00:00:17

In chapter 25, we read Jeremiah's

11th message of condemnation to Judah

8

: 00:00:21

As I read a few verses, I want you to

attend to what God asked His people to do.

9

: 00:00:25

Beginning in verse three: For

twenty-three years, from the

10

: 00:00:29

thirteenth year of Josiah the son

of Amon, king of Judah, to this day,

11

: 00:00:33

the word of the Lord has come to

me, and I have spoken persistently

12

: 00:00:36

to you, but you have not listened.

13

: 00:00:38

You have neither listened Nor inclined

your ears to hear, although the Lord

14

: 00:00:42

persistently sent to you all his servants

the prophets, saying, " Turn now every

15

: 00:00:47

one of you from his evil way and deeds,

and dwell upon the land that the Lord has

16

: 00:00:51

given to you and your fathers from of old

and forever Do not go after other gods

17

: 00:00:56

to serve and worship them or provoke

me to anger with the work of your hands.

18

: 00:01:00

then I will do you no harm.

19

: 00:01:02

Yet you have not listened

to me, declares the Lord

20

: 00:01:05

That you might provoke me to anger with

the work of your hands to your own harm

21

: 00:01:09

And in verse eight, God tells them

because they have not obeyed His

22

: 00:01:12

words, He is sending Nebuchadnezzar,

the king of Babylon, to take them into

23

: 00:01:16

captivity God was rebuking the people

for not listening and obeying His words

24

: 00:01:21

Listening and obeying is a

thoroughly biblical idea.

25

: 00:01:24

And these portions of scripture where it's

repeated over and over are like fuel in

26

: 00:01:28

my tank for my parenting because I know

that's what God requires of believers.

27

: 00:01:32

It encourages me to continue to have

that expectation for my kids, that

28

: 00:01:36

I would clearly communicate what I

expect of them and what God expects,

29

: 00:01:40

and that I would hold them to that

in an age-appropriate, loving way.

30

: 00:01:43

Back to Jeremiah's message aren't

you astonished at the amount of

31

: 00:01:46

times that God warns them and

offers them a chance to repent?

32

: 00:01:50

And yet he knows what will happen

33

: 00:01:52

in 25:11, Jeremiah has a mic drop moment.

34

: 00:01:55

For the first time, he reveals how

long they'll be in captivity in

35

: 00:01:58

Babylon, and I assure you it's not

what they wanted to hear 70 years.

36

: 00:02:03

That's seven zero.

37

: 00:02:05

It doesn't matter what

the life expectancy was.

38

: 00:02:08

Basically, they're being informed

if they went into captivity, they

39

: 00:02:11

weren't coming back, and their

kids may not come back either

40

: 00:02:14

Steph: their syncretistic

worship of Yahweh and other gods

41

: 00:02:18

Deeply impacted their children

and the future generations And

42

: 00:02:21

chapter 25 concludes with God

rebuking the leaders in the temple.

43

: 00:02:25

They were given a charge to shepherd

their flock, and because they did

44

: 00:02:28

not, their judgment would be severe

45

: 00:02:30

Jeremiah's 12th message

condemning Judah is in chapter 26

46

: 00:02:34

Astoundingly, in verse three, God says,

"It may be they will listen and everyone

47

: 00:02:39

turn from his evil way that I may relent

of the disaster that I intend to do

48

: 00:02:43

to them because of their evil deeds."

49

: 00:02:45

Thus says the Lord, " If you will not

listen to me, to walk in my law that I

50

: 00:02:50

have set before you, and to listen to the

words of my servants, the prophets, whom

51

: 00:02:54

I send to you urgently, though you have

not listened, then I will make this house

52

: 00:02:58

like Shiloh, and I will make this city a

curse for all the nations of the earth."

53

: 00:03:02

Did you notice the verb that was said

four times in those couple of verses?

54

: 00:03:05

Listen.

55

: 00:03:06

God wants His people to

listen so they can obey Him.

56

: 00:03:09

And at this point, He's still willing

to relent from His plan Given what

57

: 00:03:13

we've read so far about the priests

of the temple, how do you think

58

: 00:03:16

they received Jeremiah's message?

59

: 00:03:18

Sadly, but not surprisingly,

they decide he should die

60

: 00:03:21

for proclaiming that anything

negative will happen to Jerusalem.

61

: 00:03:24

But they're contemplating whether

or not God would punish them if they

62

: 00:03:27

did so And once again, God protects

Jeremiah from their evil intentions.

63

: 00:03:31

it's in this 13th message that God

calls Jeremiah to another object lesson.

64

: 00:03:35

He's to put a yoke on

his neck as he preaches

65

: 00:03:38

A yoke is huge and heavy, But God

was ensuring that all people, whether

66

: 00:03:43

they were visual or auditory learners,

had no excuse Once again, he tells

67

: 00:03:47

them, " Allow yourself to be yoked

and surrender to the king of Babylon.

68

: 00:03:51

Don't rebel against him.

69

: 00:03:52

It will go so much better

for you if you submit."

70

: 00:03:55

he reminds them that if they try to

rebel, their destruction is imminent.

71

: 00:03:59

There's a false prophet named Hananiah

Who breaks the yoke off Jeremiah's neck?

72

: 00:04:03

Jeremiah may have been a little

relieved that Hananiah's rebellion

73

: 00:04:06

removed this heavy yoke from his back

74

: 00:04:08

But God declares, " Go ahead,

Hananiah, break this wooden one.

75

: 00:04:12

I will replace it with iron."

76

: 00:04:13

And for his bold rebellion to the

Lord, he died two months later

77

: 00:04:17

There were many false prophets arising

wanting to give the people peace, but this

78

: 00:04:21

wasn't helpful because it wasn't requiring

them to turn from their wickedness.

79

: 00:04:25

You can't have the blessing

of peace without obedience.

80

: 00:04:28

Now we come to Jeremiah's

14th message in chapter 29

81

: 00:04:31

There are verses that you're sure to know

and have likely found encouragement from

82

: 00:04:35

But we want to be careful

about which verses we apply to

83

: 00:04:37

ourselves as believers today.

84

: 00:04:39

Remember, scripture only has

one proper interpretation.

85

: 00:04:42

The words of God were written

for a specific situation at

86

: 00:04:45

a specific point in history.

87

: 00:04:47

But God's word can have many applications.

88

: 00:04:49

You and I can come to the same verse

and find different encouragement

89

: 00:04:52

and hope for what we're walking

through But that doesn't change the

90

: 00:04:55

context to which it was written in

91

: 00:04:57

When Nebuchadnezzar brought the people

to Babylon, he did it in three waves

92

: 00:05:00

Already at this point, there were many

people from Judah dwelling in Babylon.

93

: 00:05:03

But there were false prophets saying,

"Don't worry, it's gonna be fine.

94

: 00:05:07

God will help us return home in no time."

95

: 00:05:09

And Jeremiah writes this letter

to them saying, "That's not true.

96

: 00:05:12

God already told you it would be 70

years of captivity and beginning in

97

: 00:05:16

verse four, he writes, " Thus says the

Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel to

98

: 00:05:20

all the exiles whom I have sent into

exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ' Take

99

: 00:05:24

wives and have sons and daughters.

100

: 00:05:26

Take wives for your sons and give

your daughters in marriage that

101

: 00:05:30

they may bear sons and daughters.

102

: 00:05:31

Multiply there and do not decrease,

but seek the welfare of the city

103

: 00:05:35

where I've sent you into exile.

104

: 00:05:37

and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in

its welfare, you will find your welfare.'

105

: 00:05:42

For thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God

of Israel: ' Do not let your prophets and

106

: 00:05:46

your diviners who are among you deceive

you, and do not listen to the dreams

107

: 00:05:49

that they dream, for it is a lie that

they are prophesying to you in my name.

108

: 00:05:53

I did not send them,' declares the Lord."

109

: 00:05:55

For thus says the Lord: When seventy

years are completed for Babylon, I will

110

: 00:05:59

visit you, and I will fulfill to you my

promise and bring you back to this place.

111

: 00:06:03

For I know the plans I have for

you, declares the Lord, plans

112

: 00:06:06

for welfare and not for evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

113

: 00:06:11

Then you will call upon me and come

and pray to me, and I will hear you.

114

: 00:06:15

You will seek me and find me, when you

seek me with all your heart I will be

115

: 00:06:19

found by you, declares the Lord, and I

will restore your fortunes And gather you

116

: 00:06:23

from all the nations and all the places

where I have driven you, declares the

117

: 00:06:26

Lord, and I will bring you back to the

place from which I sent you into exile

118

: 00:06:31

Jeremiah's letter reminds them why the

judgment came upon them, because they

119

: 00:06:35

did not pay attention to God's words.

120

: 00:06:37

Yet God gives this beautiful

message of hope to a people that

121

: 00:06:40

were not in a hopeful situation.

122

: 00:06:42

And while He encourages them

to faithfulness today, He calls

123

: 00:06:45

them to walk in long-term hope.

124

: 00:06:47

They are still God's chosen people, and

someday the nation will be brought back.

125

: 00:06:51

And He's not just going

to restore their land.

126

: 00:06:53

He will do something in their

hearts during this captivity

127

: 00:06:56

Though the people were tempted to

put their lives and their families on

128

: 00:06:59

hold and to wish for the overthrow of

Babylon, God wants just the opposite.

129

: 00:07:03

Remember how the Israelites multiplied

rapidly while they were slaves in Egypt?

130

: 00:07:06

God tells them, "Continue to

be fruitful and multiply."

131

: 00:07:09

and pray for the good of Babylon,

because if it's secure, you will be also

132

: 00:07:13

There are a few reasons we have

to be careful in applying these

133

: 00:07:16

verses to other situations Number

one, God is speaking to His people.

134

: 00:07:21

If someone has not submitted

their life to Christ

135

: 00:07:24

their future looks very different

136

: 00:07:26

Because God's good for them would be

bringing them to the end of themselves,

137

: 00:07:29

just as we're seeing with Israel and Judah

138

: 00:07:31

So the audience matters.

139

: 00:07:32

Next We need to understand

that these verses were spoken

140

: 00:07:35

in a time of true difficulty.

141

: 00:07:37

You can't claim them and say,

"Everything's gonna be all right

142

: 00:07:40

because God has a good plan for me."

143

: 00:07:41

These people were going

to remain in captivity.

144

: 00:07:44

They would die in another land,

never coming back to their home.

145

: 00:07:47

They were removed from the temple, and

the ways that they were supposed to

146

: 00:07:51

worship God had been completely cut off

147

: 00:07:53

I imagine that some of you are in a

long season of financial struggle.

148

: 00:07:57

I want you to imagine that God said

to you, " On this earth, you will

149

: 00:08:00

always struggle to make ends meet."

150

: 00:08:02

And then said, " For I know the plans I

have for you, for a hope and a future."

151

: 00:08:06

Some of you battle constant

physical pain and discomfort.

152

: 00:08:09

It may rob your peace and affect

the way you're able to mother.

153

: 00:08:12

If God told you, " I'm never going to take

your symptoms away, but I know the plans I

154

: 00:08:17

have for you for welfare and not for evil.

155

: 00:08:19

What if you're in a difficult relationship

And God declares, " I'm never going

156

: 00:08:23

to heal that struggle, but I know the

plans I have for you, plans for good."

157

: 00:08:27

or what if you have an

ongoing parenting struggle

158

: 00:08:30

And God told you, "This child will

never become easier to deal with

159

: 00:08:33

for I know the plans I have for you,

plans for good and not for evil."

160

: 00:08:37

When we apply these words of hope

while acknowledging the struggle,

161

: 00:08:41

it's acknowledging that the rain and

the storm comes before the rainbow.

162

: 00:08:45

Our God is a God of hope, but so

often it doesn't look like we expect.

163

: 00:08:49

And if we go around promising people,

especially people that don't know the Word

164

: 00:08:54

of God or the character of God well, and

we issue trite platitudes like, "Oh, God

165

: 00:08:58

just wants to work everything for our good

166

: 00:09:00

they can be really thrown

off when hard things come.

167

: 00:09:03

and it can make them doubt the goodness

of God rather than cling to Him

168

: 00:09:06

these false promises remind me of

a crazy circumstance my husband

169

: 00:09:10

and I encountered on our honeymoon.

170

: 00:09:12

He had surprised me with a

trip to an all-inclusive resort

171

: 00:09:14

in the Dominican Republic.

172

: 00:09:16

We had everything we needed at the

resort, but there were a couple

173

: 00:09:18

excursions we were intrigued by

174

: 00:09:20

I remember eyeing one brochure

that featured a picture of a

175

: 00:09:23

hammock on an idyllic island.

176

: 00:09:25

I love hammocks, and I was excited

to see this island where part of

177

: 00:09:28

the Pirates of the Caribbean had

been filmed The brochure promised

178

: 00:09:31

we'd have a peaceful catamaran sail

while enjoying tropical beverages.

179

: 00:09:34

Next, we'd arrive at the island to a

delicious buffet and enjoy the hammocks.

180

: 00:09:39

Then we'd take a speedboat to a

sandbar where we'd get pictures with

181

: 00:09:42

starfish the size of a dinner plate

then we'd return back to our resort

182

: 00:09:46

We signed up and paid.

183

: 00:09:47

As directed, we were ready to go

before 7:00 AM the next morning

184

: 00:09:50

for our bus to pick us up.

185

: 00:09:51

Unfortunately, none of the restaurants

or snack shops opened before 7:00, so we

186

: 00:09:55

had to skip breakfast and weren't able

to buy any snacks or drinks for the road.

187

: 00:09:59

After we waited a couple hours without

seeing anyone, we were informed

188

: 00:10:02

that there was a bus strike going

on and our bus wouldn't be coming

189

: 00:10:06

We'd have to come back the next day.

190

: 00:10:07

Once again, we skipped breakfast, waited

in line, not quite as long this time,

191

: 00:10:11

before being told that the strike was

still on, but it was ending, and if

192

: 00:10:14

we came back the third day, we would

certainly be able to go We did so,

193

: 00:10:18

and thankfully, the buses did show up.

194

: 00:10:20

When we piled onto the sailboat, we were

stuffed like sardines, and instead of

195

: 00:10:24

being offered something refreshing, a warm

two-liter bottle of Coke was presented

196

: 00:10:28

to share amongst the 40 or so passengers.

197

: 00:10:30

We chose to stare out at the

incredible water and were amazed

198

: 00:10:33

by the beautiful flying fish

199

: 00:10:35

After a few hours, we

arrived at the island.

200

: 00:10:36

wondering where the hammocks were, I

inquired from the guide, His response

201

: 00:10:40

was a laugh along with, " There's

never been a hammock on this island

202

: 00:10:43

we were famished, so we approached

the buffet, which only included

203

: 00:10:47

small fish that still had the heads

on, that barely had any meat on

204

: 00:10:52

them, and had been burnt to a crisp

205

: 00:10:53

This did little to satisfy our

hunger, And we sat down in the

206

: 00:10:56

sand in the sweltering heat

207

: 00:10:57

After a while, we were instructed

to pile into a couple of speedboats,

208

: 00:11:01

eventually arriving at that sandbar.

209

: 00:11:03

And when we tried to lift these amazing

starfish out of the water, we were

210

: 00:11:06

harshly corrected that we could not do

so and could not take a picture with them

211

: 00:11:10

I didn't realize it at the moment,

but sun poisoning was setting in

212

: 00:11:12

on me I was starving, dehydrated,

and sunburnt, and I couldn't wait

213

: 00:11:16

to get home and into a cozy bed.

214

: 00:11:18

But next, our speedboat took

off, and we were far from land

215

: 00:11:21

when it completely broke down.

216

: 00:11:23

Sitting there wondering what to

do, we looked up at the sky and

217

: 00:11:25

saw dark storm clouds rolling in.

218

: 00:11:27

It wasn't long before rain

was pouring down upon us.

219

: 00:11:30

I didn't bring much that day, but because

of those promised hammocks, I had my Bible

220

: 00:11:34

in my lap, and I recall hovering over it,

trying to protect it from the pelting rain

221

: 00:11:37

it was a considerable amount of time

before another boat was able to come

222

: 00:11:40

back and rescue us, and then we had

a very cold, very wet bus ride home.

223

: 00:11:45

Incredibly, in the midst of all this,

my husband and I had the opportunity to

224

: 00:11:48

share the gospel with a couple behind us.

225

: 00:11:50

And even though we were elated over that

conversation, we were vigilantly watching

226

: 00:11:55

for when our bus would approach our resort

227

: 00:11:57

we watched couple after couple

exit the bus, and finally, we

228

: 00:12:00

were the only two that remained.

229

: 00:12:01

Our tour guide insisted we

missed our resort, but we assured

230

: 00:12:04

him, " Oh, no, believe us."

231

: 00:12:06

We wanted to get off

232

: 00:12:07

Without a word, our guide left us

with a driver that didn't speak

233

: 00:12:10

English, and he began to drive the

bus away from the lights of Punta Cana

234

: 00:12:14

and into the pitch-black darkness.

235

: 00:12:16

I think inside, my husband and I both

thought we were going to die that night.

236

: 00:12:19

But praise the Lord, the driver took

us to our resort, and we nearly kissed

237

: 00:12:23

the ground when we stepped off the bus.

238

: 00:12:24

We were relieved to be back, but

the sun poisoning was so bad that

239

: 00:12:27

I couldn't even go to dinner.

240

: 00:12:28

I just stayed in bed shivering.

241

: 00:12:30

So why did I share that

long story with you?

242

: 00:12:32

Because the false promises in that

brochure of the hammock on the island

243

: 00:12:36

with the buffet and the beverages and the

smooth sailing remind me a lot of when

244

: 00:12:40

people take Jeremiah 29:11 out of context.

245

: 00:12:43

Following God does not

guarantee smooth sailing.

246

: 00:12:46

The Bible actually instructs

us the opposite is true.

247

: 00:12:49

We need to be so careful about the

gospel promises that we present,

248

: 00:12:53

because it can truly set others up for

disappointment and discouragement God

249

: 00:12:58

does have good and a hope and a future

planned for His people, but we need to

250

: 00:13:02

be so careful about the expectations

we have of what that would look like

251

: 00:13:07

God blesses us with great joy, but the

hammocks and the smooth sailing are

252

: 00:13:10

probably not consistently for you on

this side of heaven And when you and

253

: 00:13:14

I go into our daily lives expecting

that life can be hard and yet very

254

: 00:13:18

good, it helps us to walk with God

in trust rather than disappointment,

255

: 00:13:22

striving to become more like Him

because that's how He defines good

256

: 00:13:26

And ultimately, when we picture Jesus

Christ on the cross, we're reassured that

257

: 00:13:31

the principle of Jeremiah 29:11 is true.

258

: 00:13:34

God does have a good plan for all who call

upon Him In the most painful sacrificial

259

: 00:13:39

death, when it seemed all hope was

lost, God was bringing about redemption.

260

: 00:13:44

Circumstances may not always look like

it, but God knows the plans He has.

261

: 00:13:48

If we trust and honor Him, it will

be for our good and not for our harm

262

: 00:13:52

we'll continue to look at some of these

promises because in chapters 30 through 33

263

: 00:13:56

God explains what the new

covenant will look like.

264

: 00:13:58

His people have been taken

away from the temple, and he

265

: 00:14:01

continues to lay the groundwork

266

: 00:14:02

for how his people will worship him

267

: 00:14:04

Heavenly Father, we are in

awe of the patience with

268

: 00:14:07

which you warned your people.

269

: 00:14:09

And we acknowledge that you have

exhibited that same patience with us.

270

: 00:14:13

We're convicted of the ways that we

seek good and comfort apart from you.

271

: 00:14:16

We long to be daughters that listen to

and obey you, Lord May we be surrendered

272

: 00:14:21

to the circumstances you've placed us in.

273

: 00:14:23

Help us to keep our eyes fixed on

the cross, where we're reminded

274

: 00:14:26

of the beauty that you can bring

even when all hope seems lost.

275

: 00:14:29

We pray for the welfare

of the nations we live in.

276

: 00:14:32

And that they would be

surrendered to glorifying you.

277

: 00:14:34

And when they don't, teach us

what faithfulness looks like

278

: 00:14:37

Help us to instruct our kids carefully

and to not offer them a false gospel

279

: 00:14:41

full of earthly promises and prosperity.

280

: 00:14:44

Instead, guide us in how to teach

them of how worthy you are, and that

281

: 00:14:48

we will never regret serving you

282

: 00:14:50

We believe our greatest treasure in

this life will be dwelling with you

283

: 00:14:53

and we thank you, Jesus, that you

purchased a hope and a good future for us.

284

: 00:14:57

It's in your name we pray.

285

: 00:14:58

Amen