Jeremiah 29:11

9-20-20Sermon Notes “Pop Verses: Jeremiah 29: 11”
Back in the 1990’s, some of my favorite TV commercials were for Snickers candy bars. They had this whole theme: “Not going anywhere for a while? Better grab a Snickers.” One I remember had this very serious-faced man working meticulously in the end zone of a football field, painting the name of the NFL team’s mascot in giant, white letters on a bright red background. You can hear the football players practicing in the background as the man works in the hot sun. Carefully the man paints the letters, sweating in concentration. Finally he stands up and takes a look. A big football player joins him at his side. Together they look at what the man has just spent hours painting. CHEFS. (Not CHIEFS – as in Kansas City Chiefs for those of you who are not football fans). And the football player says, “That’s nice. Chefs. You know it’s spelled…” And the man angrily replies, “Yes, I know!” And under his breath he mutters, “Great googly boogly.” And the commercial voiceover in the background says, “Not going anywhere for a while? Better grab a Snickers.”
I thought of that commercial today as I sat through a FOUR-HOUR ON-LINE WEBINAR. Yes…four hours…I really needed a Snickers! But I also thought about the Pop Verse for this Sunday. Jeremiah 29: 11…
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. (Jer. 29: 11 NRSV)
What a beautiful verse! What a popular verse! This verse has been placed on countless graduation cards. It has been quoted countless times to those who are struggling with whether or not to take a new job, or to follow God’s call to a new ministry. It just makes you feel good to read it, doesn’t it?
So what’s the problem? The problem with making this a Pop Verse – with pulling a verse out of context – is that even if we memorize it, we don’t get the full message. We never ask, “What does this really say?” We never ask, “What does it mean in context?” Without that perspective, we miss the powerful message. We must see Jeremiah 29:11 in the context of the entire book of Jeremiah, and with the entire scope of the Bible and the message God is trying to convey to humanity.
Everybody wants to memorize and memorialize and popularize the beautiful Jeremiah 29:11. But nobody wants to read Jeremiah 29: 10. What does Jeremiah 29: 10 say? It says something like, “Not going anywhere for a while? Better grab a Snickers.” Seriously. It says, “Only when Babylon’s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.” Did you get that? Seventy years! Yes, God has a beautiful future planned for Israel…but they will still be in exile for seventy years. Some will die without seeing the promised fulfilled. That wouldn’t make a very nice graduation card, would it? “Congratulations! God’s got a great future planned for you…in 70 years.”
So what is the message of Jeremiah 29: 11? Is it still powerful and relevant, like Phil. 4: 13, and Ps. 37: 4? Yes! This coming Sunday we will talk about the way Jeremiah 29: 11 has a message about how we face our past, present, and future. Join us in-person with masks and social distancing at 9:00 or 11:00, or worship with us online via Facebook Live or YouTube.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sam