Jeremiah 29 FSI - HEAR, O EARTH

> [!title|noicon] **Jeremiah 29 Notes** > [[Jeremiah 28 FSI|<Prev]]   \[[Jeremiah 30 FSI|Next>\]] > [[Jeremiah 29|Verse list view]] > Intro note to [Jeremiah 29](Jeremiah%2029.md) > > In this chapter, God is focusing on those that have been cast out of Jerusalem, as it was God's intention for Jerusalem to be destroyed. And God is giving certain information to those who have taken up residency in Babylon as captives to King Nebuchadnezzar. > > And, again, we must remember that what we are learning here applies spiritually to our day. These are pictures of what is happening with the local congregations in our day. And we have come to the time where King Nebuchadnezzar rules over Jerusalem. He has not officially destroyed Jerusalem yet -- the temple was still standing for about another 10 years. So this coincides with the early years of the great tribulation period. > > In [verse 4](Jeremiah%2029.md#^4), God makes it clear that *He* has caused those who were carried away to be taken captive into Babylon. And this represents those who have come out of the churches before they have been completely destroyed by Satan, the king of the spiritual Babylon. ^jer29-intro > [Jeremiah 29:1](Jeremiah%2029.md#^1), [2](Jeremiah%2029.md#^2), [3](Jeremiah%2029.md#^3), [4](Jeremiah%2029.md#^4) note > > So the king sends a letter from Jerusalem, from the hand of Jeremiah, to those taken captive into Babylon. And remember, Jeremiah is the spokesman for God, so this letter is the Word of God to them. > > Now, as we read in [verse 3](Jeremiah%2029.md#^3), this letter was sent through official channels from King Zedekiah to King Nebuchadnezzar. Though this message isn't for Nebuchadnezzar himself, it is for the people who have already been carried away captive. So God is indicating here that He wants *everyone* to hear this message and to know God's intention. And notice the letter was sent by the hands of two men, "Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah." And this represents how it is out of the mouth of two or three witnesses that every word is established ([Mt 18:16](Matthew%2018.md#^16); [2 Cor 13:1](2%20Corinthians%2013.md#^1); [Heb 10:28](Hebrews%2010.md#^28)). It also points to the fact that God is concerned with each of us as individuals -- that God works through very specific people and directly with us. So many times He directly names those through whom He is working and so on. > > So here we have this message from God to those carried captive ([vv1](Jeremiah%2029.md#^1), [2](Jeremiah%2029.md#^2)), to those who represent the true believers during the final tribulation period and have been forced out of the visible kingdom of God, that they are to expect this to be a permanent situation for the time being, they are to dwell there as obedient citizens in Babylon in all things lawful and not to rebel, as we see from those like Daniel and his companions and others. So this letter that Jeremiah has sent to the captives in Babylon is to discuss how they are to live now that they have been cast into Babylon. And this is also for us to know how we are to live and to conduct ourselves now that we know that the end of time is upon us. > > Notice in [vv1](Jeremiah%2029.md#^1), [2](Jeremiah%2029.md#^2) there are 2 different kinds of people taken captive that represent the believers. There are the elders, priests and prophets -- those who represent the spiritual rule over the people and witness to the Word of God. And then there are the princes, carpenters and smiths -- those who represent the political rule and those who are the builders of the temple, pointing to those who build the kingdom of God. > > But again, this is a message that God intends for everyone to hear and to know about. It is a public message that goes into all the land so that as many as possible will hear it. So in today's terms, this isn't a secret message just for those who have come out of the churches -- it is ultimately addressed to the whole world through the Bible. Of course, that doesn't mean that everyone will respond and obey it. But it is nevertheless published for all to hear. ^jer29-1-4 > [Jeremiah 29:5](Jeremiah%2029.md#^5), [6](Jeremiah%2029.md#^6), [7](Jeremiah%2029.md#^7) note > > Now that we are just a short time before the end, represented by the captives who are now forced out into Babylon, how are we to live out our lives in this situation? We are not to put on white robes and go out to some mountain somewhere to wait for the rapture. We aren't to change our living habits and begin to live a different kind of a life since we're near the end. We're to continue living our lives as we should always be living them in obedience to the Word of God as we read in [Matthew 6:10](Matthew%206.md#^10), [33](Matthew%206.md#^33). > > Spiritually, of course, there is a house we need to build and a garden we need to plant. And that happens as we continue to send forth the Gospel, building the house or the kingdom of God and the garden of God ([1 Cor 3:9](1%20Corinthians%203.md#^9)). And as we do so, we are carpenters and smiths ([v2](Jeremiah%2029.md#^2)) who seek the peace of the city ([v7](Jeremiah%2029.md#^7)) where we are carried away captives. So we continue to have our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and to share Him with others as we live out our lives as ambassadors in Satan's world and to seek the salvation of others. And this, even as we are approaching the end where God is allowing Satan to rule more definitively over the churches and the world -- in order to multiply and magnify wickedness and sin all over the world -- so that no one can stand before God and falsely believe that somehow, after all, they are pretty good people, so how could it be that God would bring judgment. ^jer29-5-7 > [Jeremiah 29:8](Jeremiah%2029.md#^8), [9](Jeremiah%2029.md#^9) note > > Study in progress 12.2025. > > ^jer29-8-9 Tags: #Old_Testament #Jeremiah #Gods_judgment_on_His_people #FSI