God Knows
Jeremiah 29:11–13
“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. 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. ” (Jeremiah 29:11–13, NIV)
· God Knows
o Who They Are
§ As the Nation
· Covenant Community who has broken its part
· As a Community looking inward not Godward
§ As Individuals
· Person of God… People of the Nation
o Where They Are
§ As a Nation
· In a Place of Punishment
· In a Place of Failure
§ As Individuals
· In lives driven by sin not by truth
o Why They Are
§ As a Nation
· Rejected God
§ As Individuals
·
· God Has
o Plans for שָׁלֹו (šā∙lôm)
§ Peace
§ Completeness
§ Safeness \ Salvation
o Plans for תִּקְוָה (tiq∙wā(h)):
§ hope, expectation, looking forward to, i.e., a confidence
o Plans for a אַחֲרִית acharith
§ A Future… This was important because they believed they didn’t
· As a nation, in exile
· As individuals as people of God