Jeremiah 30

WEEK  18                                           Jeremiah 30     

SATURDAY  Reflections

In the last three chapters God has spoken about the yoke on the nations and the years of exile Judah could expect. Now everything is changing and for the next two chapters, Jeremiah is going to speak about the freedom Judah will experience in the future.

God has promised he will break the yoke and God will bring the exiles home. God explains that their sin caused their pain but God will now free them from those who hurt them. Those who inflicted pain will be held responsible for their misuse of God's providence.  The chapter ends with the promise that they will finally understand. God will accomplish His purpose.

Jer 30:1-24
(1)  The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
(2)  Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
(3)  For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
(4)  And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
(5)  For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
(6)  Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
(7)  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
(8)  For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
(9)  But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
(10)  Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
(11)  For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
(12)  For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
(13)  There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
(14)  All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
(15)  Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
(16)  Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
(17)  For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
(18)  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
(19)  And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
(20)  Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
(21)  And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.
(22)  And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
(23)  Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
(24)  The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

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1 Samuel 25

WEEK  18                                           1 Samuel 25 

TUESDAY  Reflections

Have you ever been cheated? In David’s day, men would help guard herds and shepherds for their owners. The common practice was to share something with those who had helped guard your property. David and his men didn’t plunder any of Nabal’s goods nor allow anyone else to. Nabal’s servants point out that since David and his men were there they hadn’t lost anything. Yet, at the time of the festival, a time of generosity, Nabal was greedy.  Nabal used the division between David and Saul as an excuse to keep from sharing anything with David and his men even though they had earned it.

 

David began to do what most of us would want to do: take vengeance. It is clear he seems to have forgotten God’s word’s in Deuteronomy 32: 35a,36a, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay... The LORD will vindicate his people.” David acted in the heat of anger. His son Solomon would later write, Proverbs 14:29 (NIV) “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”  David was heading for great folly and an action that would never have been forgotten. Thankfully for David and for the people of Nabal’s family, there was a woman with wisdom.

 

Abigail was stuck in a bad marriage, she was a good-looking and intelligent woman stuck with a man who was mean and bad-tempered. She did what was needed to turn David away from his anger and save her household. She knew one day God would deal with her husband but did not want David to hold the guilt of having killed him in anger.

 

David saw later that God did deal with Nabal. Could it be, that in remembering this encounter David wrote Psalm 37:8 “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.”

 

Abigail was vindicated by God and made the wife of a king. She had no promise that any of this would happen, but she trusted God and did what was right. She placed herself in harm’s way and is a beacon of light to those around her.

1Sa 25:1-44
(1)  And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
(2)  And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
(3)  Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
(4)  And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
(5)  And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
(6)  And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
(7)  And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
(8)  Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
(9)  And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
(10)  And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
(11)  Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
(12)  So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
(13)  And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
(14)  But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
(15)  But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
(16)  They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
(17)  Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
(18)  Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
(19)  And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
(20)  And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
(21)  Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
(22)  So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
(23)  And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
(24)  And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
(25)  Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
(26)  Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
(27)  And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
(28)  I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
(29)  Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
(30)  And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
(31)  That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
(32)  And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
(33)  And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
(34)  For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
(35)  So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
(36)  And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
(37)  But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
(38)  And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
(39)  And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
(40)  And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
(41)  And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
(42)  And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
(43)  David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
(44)  But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

Romans 8

VICTORY!

WEEK  18                                              Romans 8

THURSDAY  Reflections

As defeating as Chapter 7 of Romans is, chapter 8 is victorious. The problem is that too many look at this chapter and try to spiritualize it. My spirit isn't sinning but the rest of me can't help it. There are also those who think this is the promise for the age to come. However, Paul is saying we can live above sin now.

 

If we walk Spirit-controlled lives, sin is defeated. The problem is many are not allowing God's Spirit and His love to rule their lives. They have the power but they are not using it.

 

This being said someone can have the right attitude and still do wrong not out of malicious intent but out of ignorance and/or habit. This is why growing in Christ is so important. The key to victory in the chapter (in the Christian life) is by being "in" the Spirit.

 

Paul ends this chapter with one of the most positive views of life even when it’s rough; "God works all things together for good" and "we are more than conquers." So let's live in Christ and not be afraid. 

Rom 8:1-39
(1)  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(3)  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(5)  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
(6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
(7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
(9)  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
(10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
(11)  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
(12)  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
(13)  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
(14)  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(15)  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(16)  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
(17)  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
(18)  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
(19)  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
(20)  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
(21)  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
(22)  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
(23)  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
(24)  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
(25)  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
(26)  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(27)  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(28)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
(29)  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
(30)  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
(31)  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
(32)  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
(33)  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
(34)  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
(35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
(36)  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
(37)  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
(38)  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

(39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Psalm 57

WEEK  18                                           Psalm 57

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Here again, is a psalm written on the run. David here isn't calling out for deliverance but for mercy. God's anointed king asking for mercy may seem strange, but David knew it was only God's mercy that gave him anything. David knows he can’t command God to help him so is calling out for mercy and deliverance.

 

This psalm tells me that even if I am God's person for that moment, I still require His mercy so that I can do the work God has for me. I don't know if I like the idea of getting up early but I choose to praise the Lord. 

Psa 57:1-11
(1)  To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
(2)  I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
(3)  He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
(4)  My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
(5)  Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
(6)  They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
(7)  My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
(8)  Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
(9)  I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
(10)  For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
(11)  Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

1 Samuel 24

WEEK  18                                           1 Samuel 24 

TUESDAY  Reflections

This chapter contains the first of two times God delivers Saul into David's hands. David understands it is God's job to remove the king and refuses to harm Saul or allow his men to. After which, Saul admits David is right and God will make him king.

 

 David, after receiving this assurance, doesn't go down into Saul's camp nor does he stay anywhere Saul can reach him. David has learned that though Saul has moments of regret, he hasn't truly repented. Saul will soon be back trying to kill David again.

 

This story reminds me we are not supposed to take vengeance into our own hands. We also are not required to place ourselves in a position where we can be injured or in David's case, killed. Christianity requires forgiveness, but it doesn't require us to place ourselves into danger. Yes, there are times the disciples were called to go into dangerous situations, but these are times God directs. Paul and even Jesus refused to put themselves in a place where they would be killed until God told them. 

1Sa 24:1-22
(1)  And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
(2)  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
(3)  And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
(4)  And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
(5)  And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
(6)  And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
(7)  So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
(8)  David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
(9)  And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
(10)  Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.
(11)  Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
(12)  The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
(13)  As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
(14)  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
(15)  The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
(16)  And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
(17)  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
(18)  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
(19)  For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
(20)  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
(21)  Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
(22)  And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

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Psalm 54

WEEK 17                                             Psalm 54

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

This psalm of David is a simple prayer for help and praise to God for help and deliverance. There have been times when the prayer which starts this Psalm has been on my lips, "Save me, God!" Considering mankind's need for salvation, it is the first prayer we all need to pray. We need to be saved; saved from sin, from evil, from ourselves. I am so glad God answers this prayer when it is prayed from a sincere heart.

Psa 54:1-7
(1)  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
(2)  Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
(3)  For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
(4)  Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
(5)  He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.
(6)  I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.

(7)  For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Jeremiah 29

WEEK  17                                            Jeremiah 29   

SATURDAY  Reflections

God's perfect plan for Israel wasn't for them to be conquered yet being God, he saw what was coming and was not surprised. For the people of Israel who had been conquered it was a shock. They didn't know what to do and God sent them a message. The message summed up was “bloom where you're planted" (Jeremiah 29:4-7).

This is perhaps the most difficult action to take. Many times, we want things made right or at least our image of right, but God says, "No." In this situation we see why God has done what he has done, it is because of the disobedience of the people. However, in our lives, we don’t always see everything. It is easy to say, God wanted this, but that isn’t true. God didn’t want it, he just gave man the freedom to do it. This, however, takes us away from our point. My point today is that often God asks us to live right, right where we are. There will come a day of change (Jeremiah 29:10-14), until that time live and be content with where you are.

Yes, there is a time to fight against the system. There is a time to stand against what isn’t right. There is a time also to wait. There is a time to let go. The key is to know when that is. Here in this passage, God is giving the captives instructions on what to do. For us, it may not always be clear. This is why the prayer of serenity is so poignant.

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things, I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can

And the Wisdom to know the difference.

Jer 29:1-32

(1)  Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;

(2)  (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)

(3)  By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,

(4)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

(5)  Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

(6)  Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

(7)  And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

(8)  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

(9)  For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

(10)  For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

(11)  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

(12)  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

(13)  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

(14)  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

(15)  Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;

(16)  Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;

(17)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

(18)  And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

(19)  Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.

(20)  Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:

(21)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;

(22)  And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

(23)  Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.

(24)  Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,

(25)  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,

(26)  The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

(27)  Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?

(28)  For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

(29)  And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.

(30)  Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

(31)  Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:

(32)  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.

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