Well hello there, my it seems like we visited only yesterday, right? That was a bad take off on the Willie Nelson song, 'Hello Walls' but let's see what we can do with this day, Wednesday, February 26, 2025. We see the above quotation, Jeremiah 29:11, on shirts, jackets, ball caps, bumper stickers, and, people generally use it to encourage others. This verse is often included in graduation recognitions and other milestone well wishing. Here's what the site Got.Questions.org says about the importance of context in accurately establishing truth: "It’s important to study Bible passages and stories within their context. Taking verses out of context leads to all kinds of error and misunderstanding. Understanding context begins with four principles: literal meaning (what it says), historical setting (the events of the story, to whom is it addressed, and how it was understood at that time), grammar (the immediate sentence and paragraph within which a word or phrase is found) and synthesis (comparing it with other parts of Scripture for a fuller meaning). Context is crucial to biblical exegesis in that it is one of its most important fundamentals. After we account for the literal, historical, and grammatical nature of a passage, we must then focus on the outline and structure of the book, then the chapter, then the paragraph. All of these things refer to "context." I dare say that many if not most of those who embrace 29:11 as a universal truth have ever read the chapter itself along with the surrounding chapters to get the context. I am not the wild Bible guy telling everyone to get off my lawn. I don't go around asking people to please not display this verse. My point is to say this about it. Check it out. Study it. Find the context of when and why God through the Prophet uttered these words. I can tell you this without hesitation. Not everyone who heard these words received a hope and a future. Some received the tragic end of their lives. Example: Jeremiah 29:29-32, Zephaniah the priest read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet. Then this message from the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Jeremiah, send this message to all the captives in Babylon: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah, the man from the Nehelam family: Shemaiah has spoken to you, but I didn’t send him. He has made you believe a lie. Because Shemaiah has done that, this is what the Lord says: I will soon punish Shemaiah, the man from the Nehelam family. I will completely destroy his family, and he will not share in the good things I will do for my people.’” This message is from the Lord. “‘I will punish Shemaiah because he has taught the people to turn against the Lord.’” Check it out. I prefer Romans 8:28 to indicate God's favor, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." It too necessitates a study of Chapter 8 to gain a full appreciation for its application. Okay. That type of thing is more of a pet peeve to me than something more serious. Don't throw your t-shirt away but study, pray over, and discover the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
I promise I did not get up on the wrong side of the bed today. And, if you think I am complaining you miss my point entirely. Is there any sense in which 29:11 might apply? I think we could say it does fit the application of Romans 8:28 since that verse applies to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. In that sense, God does have plans for His own. But, it does not apply universally. Those who love God and are the called according to His purpose are the recipients of this promise and I add the truth about all things. It does not mean that all things will be good things as we define good, but, each and every iota of each and every thing for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose works together for good. I read just this week the heartbreaking post from a dad whose missionary daughter and son-in-law were murdered by gangs in the country where they were proclaiming the Gospel, Haiti. That was not a good thing as I see it, but, it was an all thing and it did work together for good in their testimony for Jesus and the fact they are in His presence now. Do I understand all of that? Not really but I believe 8:28 underpins even their tragic deaths. I have no idea how any of this came up on my radar today. And, I will be the first to admit that I have not always been right about my way of seeing things, not in the past, not in the present, and if history can be used to predict, well, I will likely not always be right in the future time continuum. But, that's enough for today. If I continue I will likely have a headache. Just joking. Y'all along with me can busy ourselves in focusing our efforts on loving God and in being the called according to His purpose. Get it? Have a great one and may God add His blessings. Amen.
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