Sermon Central
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When Uncertainty Takes Hold Series
Contributed by Allan Quak on May 8, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: The exiles in Babylon where in a place of uncertainty because they were receiving mixed messages about the future plans of the Lord. Jeremiah reminds the exiles that, in the middle of uncertainty, God has a plan for peace and a strengthening of our personal relationship with God.
Jesus Is Still Sovereign
When Uncertainty Takes Hold
There is a situation that is written about in the book of Jeremiah that speaks very specifically into our lives in this COVID-19 moment.
The historical setting is the time when the nation of Judah is taken into exile by Nebuchadnezzar. It was a time of great uncertainty. A strong contributing factor to the uncertainty was that self-appointed prophets were claiming to speak on behalf of God.
1 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people: 2 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon”, declares the Lord, “for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”’
Hananiah is saying, “Everything will get back to normal in two years.” Which is a long time.
And if Hananiah was a true prophet in our day, I think we would all be despairing … TWO YEARS.
But Hananiah is not a prophet for our day – he is speaking about exiled Judah.
And, as it turns out, Hananiah is also a false prophet. Jeremiah the true prophet says this:-
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, ‘Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. 16 Therefore this is what the Lord says: “I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.”’
17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.
The false prophet is gone, but the confusion is still there. So Jeremiah writes a letter.
Read Jeremiah 29:1-14
Two years sounded bad enough.
Now it is 70 years. Most of the people, except for the very youngest, will not come back to Jerusalem from Babylon. It will be their children and grand-children.
It is a long time … but the process is now very clear.
By bringing the truth of the word of God, Jeremiah as the prophetic mouth-piece of God, brings certainty amid all the uncertainty.
The Judahites now know how long the exile will last, and what is expected of them as they wait.
Now let is focus on us.
There is no doubt that, at the moment, uncertainty has taken hold.
What will actually happen when restrictions are lifted … that is uncertain.
When will we be able to meet at church together … that is uncertain.
What will a post-COVID-19 world look like … that is uncertain.
As we look towards uncertainty … this part of Jeremiah gives us certainty.
Not all the words.
Some aspects are specific to the historical moment, “build house, settle down, get married … you will return to Jerusalem in 70 years.”
Some aspects apply to all ages whether there is certainty or uncertainty, “seek the peace of the city, pray, do not be deceived by those prophesying lies”.
The section which gives certainty in the face of uncertainty is this part.
11 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord,
I know the plans! The Lord who is …
The Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Who measures the seas hollow of his hand and who marks of the heavens with the breath hand.
Jesus Christ who is consistent, the same yesterday and today and for ever.
Who is seated far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. With all things under his feet.
The Lord, Jesus, Messiah, Saviour, Sovereign …
He knows the plans.
