AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR AUGUST 16
Read Jeremiah 29-32
Would you consider buying property in a war torn land? Jeremiah not only dreams about it, he does it.
Consider the destruction of Jerusalem for a moment, it’s during this time that Daniel is exiled and Ezekiel the priest is taken. Sons are killed; mothers are weeping and there’s abundant turmoil for the nations of Israel and Judah. I hope you didn’t miss the connection of Jeremiah prophetically saying, ‘Rachel is weeping for her children because they are no more,’ with the twin New Testament understanding in Matthew 2:13-18. Government sanctioned killing. Mothers refuse comfort. Deep sorrow and sadness in every home, and this is the moment hope fills the mouth of Jeremiah. We hope for what we do not see. Romans 8:25
Judah and Israel will cease to be nations. The fields are burned, and the desolation Babylon is bringing on them is fierce. Can you see it? And now it is in this exact context that God tells Jeremiah, I will bring them back, after 70 years. It’s in this oceanic dark night God pronounces the future is bright. ‘I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU DECLARES THE LORD’ Jeremiah 29:11.
Where in your life do you need to believe this?
God’s plans have the trademark of benevolent love. When he longs to do you good, He is over the top. Exceedingly, abundantly, above, beyond all you can ask.
And when Jeremiah dreams powerfully about this restoration, his sleep is ‘sweet’ to him.
Psalm authors, hymn writers, and prophets often say the same thing—it is so sweet to trust the Lord.
Psalm 126 possibly written by Ezra after the restoration sounds soooooo similar.
1When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who tdream.
2 Then our umouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
““This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.””
Jeremiah 32:42, 44 NIV
And Jeremiah does it preemptively when he buys the land with silver saying, to a humbled nation, this is your future.
Restoration is possible in any area where we’ve been broken down. And when it happens you feel like you are dreaming. I pray that the LORD would do it by the power of HIS Spirit.
