HDWN? That might not mean what you think it means…

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a good mug or piece of wall decor featuring a Bible verse. If I’m in the right mood, I might even put on a t-shirt or trucker hat that displays a verse. If I’m being honest (and vulnerable) here, I would tell you that when I’m looking up a guy I’m interested in, one of the first things I look for is a Bible verse in his Instagram bio.

One verse that’s meant a lot to me over the years is Jeremiah 29:11. I can’t tell you how many times that verse has been prayed over me, written in congratulation/birthday cards, or mentioned in a conversation where a friend is guiding me through a difficult times (and yes, by “difficult times” I mean a few college breakups).

I’ve seen it on water bottles, t-shirts, blankets, wall decor, screensavers, Instagram captions, stickers, paintings… I could go on. I’m guessing that you’ve seen it too. The verse, in case you’re not familiar, goes a little something like this:

Wow, right? That should make a bad day better! God plans to prosper us, not harm us. Yay us!  This is probably the part where I would shut my Bible and leave things on a high note. 

What if I told you that this verse, like many verses, might not mean what you think it means?

As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, the Bible is a collection of books, not a singular book. When you open your Bible, you’re actually walking to a library filled with books about history, poetry, prophecy, laws, and more. That being said, it’s hard to understand the meaning of an individual book without understanding the context of the book it’s in and the timeline it’s a part of. Who wrote the book? What’s happening as the book is being written? Who was it written to? Why is it being written at all?

Reread Jeremiah 29:11. Can you answer any of those questions based on this sole verse?

Unless you’re a Bible whiz or an incredible guesser, I’m assuming that you probably can’t. No shame! I didn’t know what this verse meant until a few weeks ago when I read Jeremiah as part of my reading plan with The Bible Recap. (Author’s note: If you’re looking for a very doable reading plan, this one is for you! It’s only 20 minutes a day, and it teaches you so much about the Bible contextually and chronologically.) Alone, this verse seems hopeful and exciting. No need to fear! Harm surely isn’t coming my way! In context though… the entire meaning of the verse shifts. Let’s dig deeper into this verse and the context surrounding it.

Who wrote this verse? This verse was written by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah is considered a major prophet, because the book of Jeremiah is 52 chapters long. (A prophet isn’t considered major or minor based on the importance of what they say [it’s all important, duh], but rather the length of their book.) Jeremiah was chosen by God to call the ancient nation of Judah to acknowledge their sin and repent, as well as to prophecy the nation’s future and God’s eventual restoration.

What’s happening as the book is being written? Around 930 BC, the kingdom of Israel fractured after the death of King Solomon, David’s son. The kingdom of Israel claimed the land in the north, while the kingdom of Judah took the area south (including Jerusalem). Both kingdoms have seen better days… Israel has seen 19 kings come and go compared to Judah’s 20. Out of these 39 kings, only 5 kings “did what was right in the sight of the Lord.” These 5 kings all belonged to the kingdom of Judah. The book of Jeremiah was written between approximately 630-580 BC during the reigns of the last 5 kings of Judah: Josiah (great king), Jehoahaz (bad king), Jehoiakim (very bad king), Jehoiachin (very very bad king), and Zedekiah (such a bad king the kingdom ends).

Here is a look at what Israel and Judah looked like compared to modern day Israel.

Who was this being written to? According to the first chapter of the book, Jeremiah is prophesying to the whole nation of Judah - citizens, elders, priests, kings, and all. And let me tell you… the people of Judah were up to NO good. The prophets have been prophesying in the name of Baal, a pagan god, and the kings and leaders have mistreated and oppressed the poor and less than. Multiple times through the book, God compared the people of Judah to a harlot that has left her husband to commit adultery with countless lovers. 

Why is it being written at all? God cannot go any longer without punishing Judah for their sin and wickedness. The chosen people have chosen sin over the God who chose them in the first place. Because God is just, holy, and perfectly righteous, He cannot let sin slide. Remember, we’ve been through 20 Judaen kings, and the people keep falling to sin, forgetting God, and focusing on all the wrong things. God checks his watch and decides it’s time for some serious repentance. God sends Jeremiah to call His people to repentance. The people, however, are stubborn, defiant, and unwilling to listen to Jeremiah’s calls. They even go as far as to rush harder and faster into sin - including trying to kill Jeremiah! God takes note of this (like in Jeremiah 8:6 below), and pronounces judgement on Judah: they are to be overthrown and exiled to Babylon.

Right about now, you’re probably thinking, “Well, the verse could still be fine… right? I mean, it sounds uplifting…” Well, friend, buckle your seat belt. Let’s go back just a few verses in Jeremiah 29. It’s a bit of reading, but you can do it!

Reread the first line: “Thus the Lord says to all who were carried away captive.” God is telling those who have been captured and who are already under Babylonian oppression that they need to keep living their lives - building houses, planting gardens, marrying, having children, seeking peace. Not only that, but God tells these captives that AFTER SEVENTY YEARS He will visit, perform His good word towards the captives, and cause them to ultimately return to this place to live in freedom instead of oppression. Which means that, yes Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse meant to encourage these captives that God has good will, but that it will be 70 (that’s 7-0) years of bondage. Honestly, the people reading this letter from Jeremiah will probably be dead and gone before that 70 years is over; it will be their children or grandchildren that finally see freedom. 

Here are a few bits of context to note:

1. This verse was specifically written to citizens of Judah who were living in captivity in Babylon as a consequence of their sin and wickedness.

2. The people Jeremiah were speaking to were more than likely not alive to see the “plans for a future” God made, considering He would not return for another 70 years.

3. This verse is not a promise for prosperity. Again, we’re talking about prisoners here. I doubt that the captives who were reading Jeremiah’s world thought that God “thought thoughts of peace, not harm.” They were literally in bondage under an evil and cruel king!

Now, is the sentiment still encouraging? Absolutely. I find a lot of comfort in this verse, and will still continue to after understanding a fuller version of its meaning. In fact, I take more comfort in this verse knowing what it actually means. The citizens of Judah acted wickedly and sinfully, and had to endure the consequences of those actions. Yet, God never forgot them, even decades later. God didn’t stop loving them or pursuing them because of their sins - rather, He allowed Judah to face its consequences so they could eventually be restored. I know that I will sin, purposefully and accidentally. Though I will have to walk through the consequences of my sin, I know God will not give up on me, that restoration is mine just as it was for the people of Judah  in Jeremiah 29. This verse is not a promise of personal prosperity, but rather a glimpse at the character of God and His holiness and righteousness.

Before you buy that coffee mug, or shirt, or wall decor, or fall for a girl/guy based on their Instagram bio, seek context: Who? What? Where? Why? You may not walk away with the same fuzzy warm feeling you initially had, but you will walk away with a better understanding of the Word of God. 

What verse is in your Instagram bio, and do you know its context? Drop me a line and let me know!