Letter to the Exiles

Jeremiah 29

  • 29:1 “priests, prophets, and all the others .. exiled” - this included Daniel who paid careful attention to this word from God.
  • 29:2 “after king Jeconiah .. had been exiled” - near the beginning of Zedekiah’s reign, apparently after his training period in Babylon.
  • 29:4 “This is what the Lord .. says” - even in letter form.
  • 29:5 “settle down” - it’s going to be a while.
  • 29:7 “Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.” - this applies to all of us who are in the world, but not of the world. It does not apply to those in rebellion against the Lord.
  • 29:8 “Do not be deceived by the prophets” - the MSP (Main Stream Prophecy) was in Babylon also.
  • 29:10 “when 70 years are complete” - a
  • 29:11 “plans to prosper you” - an oft quoted verse, but the context is a letter to the “good figs”.
  • 29:14 “restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile” - after 70 years, not 2.
  • 29:19 “and neither have you exiles listened” - oof!
  • 29:21 “Ahab and Zedekiah” - named for two wicked kings (although both eventually repented before their death). What were their parents thinking?
  • 29:22 “roasted in the fire” - Nebuchadnezzars preferred mode of public execution.
  • 29:23 “adultery” - as in the story of Susannah and the Elders
  • 29:27 “poses as a prophet” - the false prophet calls Jeremiah a false prophet.
  • 29:31 “trust in a lie” - this is the destructive result of false prophecy.
  • 29:32 “he will have no one left” - die out with no descendents, and never see the return.