Jesus Is Still Sovereign
Jeremiah 29:11-14
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.
Jeremiah 28:1-4
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:-
Jeremiah 28:15-17
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.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
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 …
Revelation 22:13
The Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Isaiah 40:12
Who measures the seas hollow of his hand and who marks of the heavens with the breath hand.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ who is consistent, the same yesterday and today and for ever.
Ephesians 1:20-22
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.
There isn’t plan B, then plan C – there is the plan.
God isn’t relying on a committee, or a workgroup, or a data-matrix – there is just one plan.
A plan specifically and individually designed for each one of us.
I know the plans. That gives certainty when uncertainty takes hold.
The summary of the plan is described this way.
“Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
For a few reasons I don’t think this is the best translation – mainly because we hear the word “prosper” and we think “money, house, car.” Other bibles translate it this way:-
(English Standard Version) “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
(New King James Version) “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
(Jewish Publication Society) “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a hopeful future.”
Prosper. Welfare. Peace. Three different words to try and translate a Hebrew word. The actual Hebrew word behind that translation is “Shalom”.
Maybe you have heard that word.
The Jews still use it when they greet each other today.
“Shalom”. It means “peace … wellbeing … wholeness”.
More importantly the word “Shalom” also describes what happens when we have a vibrant relationship with God. God knows the plan, it is a plan to give you “Shalom” – to give you a vibrant relationship with Jesus.
COVID-19 isolates.
COVID-19 causes fear, doubt, stress, anger, frustration, tiredness … you put your words there.
COVID-19 does this. But so do so many other aspects of life.
When we struggle with self-identity.
When health battles overwhelm.
When the relationships in our life are toxic.
When the transition to retirement begins.
When faith doubts emerge.
When parenting guilt takes hold.
When death takes a loved one.
When temptation and sin take hold.
Into all of these situations Jesus says to us, “I know the plan”. My plan is for you to have spiritual vibrancy. A spiritual vibrancy that comes from reading Scripture and trusting the word that is spoken there.
Identity – 1 Peter 2:9
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.
When facing battles – Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Advice in relationships – 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Sin and Forgiveness – 1 John 1:8-9
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Security – Romans 8:38-39
Neither death or life … angels or demons …. present or future … nor powers, height, depth or anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The plan is for you to have spiritual vibrancy.
This will always give certainty in the face of uncertainty.
Jesus knows the plan … a plan for spiritual vibrancy.
When we are living in that plan there is a powerful outcome.
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.
The outcome is continual peace and growing spiritual vibrancy.
Continual peace and growing spiritual vibrancy because we are calling on Jesus and constantly praying as we go through all sorts of situations, difficulties, joys, challenges, struggles and inconveniences.
Psalm 116:1-2
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
Continual peace and growing spiritual vibrancy because our instinct, and response, and impulse is to seek God first. Before we rush in headlong. Before we make decisions. Before we open our mouths. Before we allow the temptation to take hold.
Psalm 34:10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Continual peace and growing spiritual vibrancy because we have found God. The only true source of reconciliation, comfort, hope, kindness, security, forgiveness, confidence, mercy, peace, compassion and grace.
We have found Jesus who is able to fill all our needs—past, present, and future.
We have found the Saviour who is the Way … the Truth … the Life.
Being strengthened in the now … so that we will be even stronger in faith in the future. No matter what comes against us.
Certainty in the face of any uncertainty.
Today our historical situation is very different to that faced by the Judahites who were told they had to stay in Babylon for 70 years.
But what is the same is the promises of God.
God will give certainty when uncertainty takes hold. That certainty is ours when we trust Jesus who comes into each of our lives and says, “I know the plans.”
Do you trust enough to trust that plan?
Prayer
