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When Ye Shall Search for Me

Jeremiah 29:1-14

INTRODUCTION: The Book of Jeremiah contains the last warnings before the judgment of God falls upon a disobedient kingdom. As such, it contains much truth that parallels the circumstances preceding the departure of the church and the judgment that will fall upon disobedient kingdoms.

I. LAYING THE FOUNDATION (Jeremiah 1-28)

A. The Divided Kingdom

1. Their unity
a. Under Saul
b. Under David
c. Under Solomon
2. Their division
a. Because of Solomon’s disobedience (1 Kings 11:26-40)
b. Occurred during the reign of Rehoboam ~ 940 BC (1 Kings 12:1-24)
c. Divided into two parts
1.) 10 tribes – Northern kingdom (Israel) went with Jeroboam
2.) 2 tribes – Southern kingdom (Judah) remained with Rehoboam
3. Their spirituality
a. The northern kingdom was the first to rebel (1 Kings 12:26-33).
b. The southern kingdom soon followed.
4. Their respective captivities
a. The northern kingdom was the first into captivity (Assyrians) ~ 721 BC
b. The southern kingdom followed (Babylonian)
1.) First stage ~ 606 BC under king Jehoiakim (grandson of Josiah)
2.) Second stage ~ 597 BC under king Jehoiachin (son of Jehoiakim)
3.) Third stage ~ 586 BC under king Zedekiah (son of Jehoiachin)

B. Jeremiah’s Call and Confidence (Jeremiah 1)

1. Ministered during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah (Jeremiah 1:3)
2. His ministry extended just over 40 years
3. His ministry was to preach undesirable truth to undesirable people (Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17-19).

C. Judah’s Condition (Jeremiah 2)

1. Kind, loving, and holy in her youth (Jeremiah 2:1-3)
2. Swiftly departing from the Lord (Jeremiah 2:4-13)

D. God’s Mercy (Jeremiah 3)

1. His willingness to receive Judah in spite of her harlotry (Jeremiah 3:1-5)
2. His anger is temporary (Jeremiah 3:12).
3. He is willing to heal her backslidings (Jeremiah 3:20-22).

E. Judah’s Rejection of God’s Mercy (Jeremiah 4-10)

1. The rarity of righteousness (Jeremiah 5:1)
2. The refusal to believe God (Jeremiah 5:12-13)
3. The rebellious behaviour (Jeremiah 5:23-29)
4. The refusal to be ashamed (Jeremiah 6:13-17)
5. The refusal to walk in God’s commandments (Jeremiah 9:13-14)

F. Judgment Promised (Jeremiah 15)

1. Regardless of righteous men (Jeremiah 15:1)
2. The options listed (Jeremiah 15:2)

G. Facilitators of Disobedience (Jeremiah 23; Jeremiah 28)

1. Prophets speaking from their own hearts (Jeremiah 23:16-32)
2. Prophets speaking lies (Jeremiah 28:1-17)

II. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF JEREMIAH’S LETTER (Jeremiah 29:1-4)

A. The Recipients of the Letter (Jeremiah 29:1)

1. From Jeremiah in Jerusalem to those carried away to Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1)
2. Those carried away captives (Jeremiah 29:4)

B. The Timing of the Letter (Jeremiah 29:2)

1. Jeconiah has been carried away (Jeremiah 29:2)
2. Zedekiah is king (Jeremiah 29:3)

III. THE PRACTICAL ADMONITIONS OF JEREMIAH’S LETTER (Jeremiah 29:5-7)

A. Concerning Homes (Jeremiah 29:5)

B. Concerning Relationships (Jeremiah 29:6)

C. Concerning Peace (Jeremiah 29:7)

IV. THE WARNINGS OF JEREMIAH’S LETTER (Jeremiah 29:8-9)

A. Deceptive Prophets (Jeremiah 29:8)

B. Deceptive Motives (Jeremiah 29:9)

V. THE SPIRITUAL ADMONITION OF JEREMIAH’S LETTER (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

A. The Timing of Return (Jeremiah 29:10)

1. After 70 years be accomplished
2. I will visit you
3. To cause you to return

B. The Faithfulness of God (Jeremiah 29:11)

1. I know the thoughts that I think toward you
2. Thoughts of peace, and not of evil
3. To give you an expected end

C. The Provocation of Seeking (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

1. The events of provocation – “then” (Jeremiah 29:12)
2. The results of provocation (Jeremiah 29:12-14)
a. Ye shall call upon me (Jeremiah 29:12)
b. Ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you (Jeremiah 29:12)
c. Ye shall seek me, and find me (Jeremiah 29:13)
d. I will be found of you (Jeremiah 29:14)
3. The extent of provocation – “with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13)

CONCLUSION: Why did Judah refuse to seek God prior to captivity? Even then, why would it take seventy years of captivity before they would search for Him with all their heart? God is accessible. The question is…are you searching?

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