Selie Visa
1) Written to you but not for you
“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.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah in 597 BC. The city of Jerusalem was captured. The temple was destroyed. The king was chained and his eyes gouged out. 10,000 Israelites were taken into captivity to Babylon.
Israelites had lost hope that their nation would one day be rebuilt. But amid that terrible situation, God spoke to them through Jeremiah the prophet. The exile in Babylon would last 70 years. They would return home after the completion of the judgment. God also declared that after 70 years he would punish Babylon and turn it into a place of everlasting desolation.
The restoration of the captives in Babylon to Judah is God's promise... the "hope and future” mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah.
This is a promise meant entirely for the nation of Israel. Those who received this promise did not live to experience its fulfillment 70 years later. Their children and grandchildren did.
This verse is not an individual promise to us today. Jeremiah 29:11 doesn’t guarantee our personal fulfillment. It is not a universal promise of blessing from God to individual believers.
How do we apply this passage then? We can be convinced that God does not abandon his people! God was faithful to his covenant of Israel’s future and to his covenant of the promised Messiah.
Note: Israel would be in exile from 605 to 536 B.C. The ancient city of Babylon was the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and home to the Tower of Babel. The ruins of Babylon can still be seen in Iraq, about 95 km south of Baghdad. Not much is left of the city except old relicslyingg on the grounds of the site.
2) Contentment not Achievement
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4.13 NIV)
Paul is referring to absolute contentment enabled by the power of the indwelling Christ. There are two tents... “Content” and “Discontent”.
Paul chose to live in the tent of Content. He is content with his affliction. He is content when in poverty as well as when in plenty. This is not a habit or a discipline. Paul has found his sufficiency in Christ.
This verse is not about worldly accomplishments or achievements but about contentment in every situation by a believer.
3) Anger for a specific time?
In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26 NIV)
Ephesians 4:26 does not give us permission to get angry for a specific duration. Rage, hatred, and jealousy are sins in themselves. They are not the fruit of the Spirit.
Take heed not to be angry. Anger is not for the glory of God nor for the good of mankind.
If you do get angry with anyone, see that the fire is extinguished immediately. Anger leads to other consequences like malice and revenge. The peaceful conscience is robbed by anger.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5: 22 – 23 NIV)
4) “By his stripes I am healed” - not physical but spiritual healing
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed”. (Isaiah 53:5 NIV)
The vicarious humiliation, suffering, and death of Christ were for the atonement of the sin of fallen mankind. Jesus Christ, by the sacrifice of himself, reconciled us with God. These prophetic words are about the coming Messiah through whose blood we might be cleansed of sin and have eternal life.
Isaiah's prophecy is not about physical healing but about spiritual healing. We are incurably sick with the poison of sin. Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God is the only cure.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed”. (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)
