The Babylonian captivity was certain to happen, but equally certain was the eventual return from exile, which would happen in seventy years time.
We then get to one the most oft-quoted verses, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future". However, it is usually quoted totally in isolation with little or no regard for the context. So let's just remind ourselves of what is going on. Judah is receiving judgement from God, suffering judgement from God. She was going to have to spend seventy years in Babylon. Moreover, as the succeeding verses make clear, there would also be a change of heart within Judah. They would become a people who would seek the Lord with all their heart. This is no nice comforting verse, but one rooted in true and deep salvation. It is one which confronts the realities of the situation they were in, the realities of sin, and the realities of salvation.
The Lord's plan is always to bring us back to Himself.
Jerusalem had not yet fallen, Zedekiah was a puppet leader. Yet there were false prophets, both in Jerusalem and Babylon, telling the people they would be rescued from Babylon. No such rescue would come, only sword and destruction. The people must not pay heed to the false prophets. This is why Jeremiah sent this letter to the exiles.
There would be no escaping the reality of sin. Time and time again we try to escape this reality, but it is futile to do so.
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