The plan I have for you (Jeremiah 29:11) by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: The plan I have for you (Jeremiah 29-30)                                  
by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precept & Gospel Music

Prophet Jeremiah’s prophetical message in chapter 29 is a letter to Jews in captivity about Israel after seventy years are completed for Babylon, the Lord will restore the hope and future of Israel after tribulation.

The Lord affirmed the promises, “I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. for I know the Plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you rand not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you. Declares the Lord and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you form all the nations and place where I have banished you.” (Jer.29:10-14).
 There are few factors the Lord’s comforting and restoration to His people as follows, 

            First,  “ it will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.” in that day, declares the Lord Almighty, “I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds, no longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.” Second, “So do not fear, O Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place; your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security and no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you. Declares the Lord. Through I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice, I will not let you go entirely unpunished.(Jer.30:10-11). Third, you wound incurable, your injury beyond healing. There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. All your allies have forgotten you, they care nothing for you…because your guilt is so great and your sins so many.  But, all who devour you will be devoured, all your enemies will go into exile, those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. ( Jer.30:12-16). Fourth, But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds. Declares the Lord. Because you are called an outcast. Zion for whom no one cares. I wll restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on the ruins. And the palace will stand in its proper place. From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained. Their children will be as in days of old, and their community will be established before me. (Jer.30:17-20). Fifth, their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me…so you will be my people, and I will be your God…the fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart in days to come you will understand this. (30:21-24).

           The Jeremiah's message indicates that God’s future blessing on Israel will include health, physical and spiritual healing, restoration of the people and Jerusalem, reestablishment of the Davidic line in the person of King Messiah (v.21) and fellowship with God.
             What is the application and implication to our generation?
 1).  The Lord is full of compassionate, and justice. He will discipline us but only with justice, and He will not let us go entirely unpunished.(Jer.30:10-11). We shall live in a life worthy to be called children of God, and live without sins, for sins can not be the master reigns over our life. 
 2). God's mercy triumphed over the sins, once we confess the sins, He forgives us and rebuilds us up according to His plan. He bring us healing, and prosperity for His name sake, so we will be His people, He will be our God. Ultimately, God gains the honor and glory. 
3). Christian's hope is waiting for second coming King Messiah Christ. Jeremiah's message had fulfilled when Jesus Christ rose from death on the cross. Indeed, Christ rules over the nations. Saints shall wait patiently upon the Lord. For those who wait upon the Lord, shall not be put to shame. And they will soar on the wings like eagle, they will walk not grow faint and run not grow weary.       
               

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Lucado, Max. God is with you every day. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015

              Myers, Roth. 31 days of praise. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010.