“Trust The Master’s Master Plan!” | Jeremiah 29:11 Sermon

First streamed on 7.30.23. First posted on 9.1.23. 

Text in gray was not read during in the sermon but is included below (for additional information). 

• Introduction
  • Deliverance and Devotion
  • What People Want To Hear vs. What People Need To Hear
• Context
• Sermon Audio
• Sermon Video
• Sermon Slideshow
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Introduction

Deliverance and Devotion

Isn’t it nice to know that we serve a God who can deliver us? Who can deliver us from all our trials? Who can deliver us from all our tribulations? “He’s Able!”

But, though God can always deliver us from anything, that doesn’t mean that He will deliver us how we want Him to, or where we want Him to, or when we want Him to.

Nonetheless, isn’t it nice to know that, when it comes to His promises, God always delivers?

And God’s people can always be encouraged by the fact that God knows the plans He has for us: plans for harmony and not for harm, plans for a hopeful future (Jer 29:11).

Therefore, we should all be devoted to our Deliverer with all our heart. And we should always trust the Master’s master plan.

What People Want To Hear vs. What People Need To Hear

Speaking of delivery, the last time I was at the pulpit during service, I made an important announcement. Thanks be to God, On Father’s Day, I shared that my wife and I are expecting our first child.

Yes, Kristin is now showing. No, she doesn’t not want you to poke her in the stomach!

But, we are praying for a smooth delivery, and that all goes well with our baby girl.

You know, one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen was the screen of the first ultrasound, where it looked like our daughter lifted up her hand and waved.

Yet, I pray that one day, I’ll be able to see my daughter lift up her hand in worship.

And, you know, one of the most beautiful sounds I’ve ever heard, is the sound of my daughter’s heartbeat.

Yet, I pray that one day, her heart will beat for the LORD. And that she seeks Him with all her heart (Jer 29:13).

Now, you can hear a baby’s heartbeat in the womb at around six weeks. But babies in the womb can’t really hear sounds until about 18 weeks.

And though we announced on Father’s Day, and though Kristin and I first told our parents on Mother’s Day, around Resurrection Sunday we knew that she had an Easter bun in the oven.

And though baby girl couldn’t hear me preach on Resurrection Sunday, in a sense, I pray that this will be the first of many sermons from her father that she hears.

So, this is kind of a special Youth Sunday sermon for me. And, even if no one else does, I pray that she truly listens.

But, you know, the thing is: we typically only like to listen to things that we want to hear.

I mean, who turns on the radio and purposely puts on songs they don’t want to hear?

Who turns on the TV and purposely puts on shows they don’t want to see?

We seek entertainment from things we find entertaining. We seek pleasure from things we find pleasing.

And, as I’ve said many times, this was what I did for like a decade as a DJ: I was a people pleaser – I would play would people wanted to hear.

But, I had to change my tune.

When I truly committed my life to Christ, when I repented from my sinful lifestyle, when I sought to dedicate my life to the Lord with all my heart, I knew I could no longer be a people-pleaser.

As someone who seeks to be a messenger of the Master, I can no longer play what people want to hear, and I can no longer say what people want to hear.

I have to say what people need to hear – the message people need to hear from the Master.

Last week’s Scripture was Galatians 1:1-9, and in Galatians 1:10 Paul tells the church that had been influenced by false teachers:

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Gal 1:10, NIV)

Brothers and sisters, people often want you to tell them what they want to hear. But, if we are truly servants of the Savior, as Rev. Bligen said, we can’t mess with the message.

But isn’t it hard not to be a people-pleaser? For, in this wicked world, that’s the way to worldly fame and acclaim. In our sinful society, that’s the way to secular success.

And, it’s so tempting to find people who will seek to encourage us with false hope – and tell us what we want to hear.

You know, if you search hard enough, no matter the situation you’re in, you’ll likely find someone who will tell you what you want to hear. And, if you search hard enough, no matter you’re situation of sin, someone will tell you want you want to hear.

But, is that what you need to hear?

Truth be told, many so-called messengers don’t bring the message, just the mess.

Nonetheless, my brothers and sisters if you search hard enough, if you seek the LORD with all your heart, you will find fellowship with the Father (Jer 29:13).

Context

Now, we know that Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most popular verses of the Bible.¹ But as we saw last Youth Sunday with Philippians 4:13, it’s always important to understand the context.²

And, you see, Jeremiah 29 is actually begins with the text of a letter that Jeremiah sends to the exiles from Judah.³ As we see in Jeremiah 29:1, which says:

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. (Jer 29:1, NIV)⁴

So, in context, Jeremiah 29 is a letter to all the people King Nebuchadnezzar had taken captive and brought back to Babylon in the 6^th century BC (around the year 597 BC).⁵

And Jeremiah, who is writing from Judah to the exiles, is now some 700 miles away.⁶

But, you know, caring leaders care for their people even when they are far away.⁷ And caring leaders care when their people are being led astray.⁸

This is why Paul writes letters to the Galatians and other congregations that had been infiltrated with false teachers.⁹

And in verse 4, through Jeremiah, the LORD says to these exiles from Judah:

This is what the LORD [YHWH] Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: (Jer 29:4, NIV)¹⁰

Notice it says that the LORD, carried them into exile – this was His doing.¹¹

As you’ll see in Jeremiah 25, this was because the people of Judah had angered the LORD with their idolatry and spiritual infidelity.

Jeremiah 25:2-3 says:

2 So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: 3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the LORD [YHWH] has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. (Jer 25:2-3, NIV)

So, you can’t say that God isn’t patient. You can’t say that God didn’t give them a chance to get right.

Jeremiah has been prophesying that doom and destruction were near for like 23 years. But that’s not what the people wanted to hear.

For decades Jeremiah has not changed his tune.¹² But, when prophets proclaim of message of the LORD, people often don’t like to listen.

Now, young people, have your parents ever told you that you’re not listening? Is it just me?

When I was younger, if my parents told me to turn off the PlayStation, and I just kept on doing what I was doing. What do you think would happen?

Well, since I was acting like I didn’t hear, I might’ve got popped in the ear.

You see, maybe there was some wax clogging my ear canal and they just wanted to loosen it up for me. I wasn’t moving in response to what they mentioned, so they had to get my attention.

In any case, though I was hearing them, I was not acting like I was hearing them. I wasn’t listening.

You see, in Scripture, when it comes the law of the LORD, as in life, listening typically doesn’t just mean to hear audibly with one’s ear.¹³ Listening often entails responding accordingly.¹⁴

The question is, after we hear the word of the LORD today, are we going to listen? Or are we just going to keep on doing what we’re doing?

Don’t be surprised if the LORD has to get your attention.

Continuing at Jeremiah 25:4, it says

4 And though the LORD [YHWH] has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. 5 They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the LORD [YHWH] gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. 6 Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm [רָעַע (rāʿaʿ)] you.” (Jer 25:4-6, NIV)

You see, as we’ve said before (see the previous sermon on Exodus 20:12, “Hallow-wean”), children had to heed PG if they wanted to remain in GP. That is, the younger generations had to listen to godly parental guidance (PG) if they wanted to be in God’s Property (GP).

Parents were to communicate to their kids the commands of the covenant. And, they had to abide by the Law of the LORD, if they wanted to abide in the land of the LORD.

Fill in the blank: “I brought you into this world___” (and I can take you out of it!).

Well, the LORD had brought Israel into the Promised Land, and He could take them out of it. Because they would not listen.

Jeremiah 25:7 says:

“But you did not listen to me,” declares the LORD [YHWH], “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.” (Jer 25:7, NIV)

You know, people often think that by not listening to the law of the LORD – by rejecting the righteous requirements of the Redeemer – that things will be better.

The world will tell you: No, no, no! Don’t listen to those old-fashioned ways of thinking. Don’t listen to those outdated notions. Don’t listen to what’s in some book written thousands of years ago.

But by not listening, in the long run, we’ll only bring harm to ourselves. And God’s people brought harm to themselves.

In Jeremiah 25:8-10, it says:

8 Therefore the LORD [YHWH] Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, 9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the LORD [YHWH], “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. 10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. (Jer 25:8-10, NIV)

So, for a time, the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, would serve as a servant of the LORD, an instrument for God’s righteous judgment against God’s rebellious people.

Around 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem and took many captives. And in Jeremiah 29, Jeremiah is writing to these captives – these exiles – who are currently in Babylon.

Now, in Jeremiah 29:5-6, you’ll see that the LORD tells the exiles to build homes in Babylon, settle down, marry, have children, and grandchildren (Jer 29:5-6).¹⁵ Increase in number.

Previously, Jeremiah prophesies that marriage and having children would result in disaster (Jer 16:2).¹⁶ Now, unlike before (Jer 4:7) they can increase in number.¹⁷

After that, the LORD tells the exiles to actually pray for Babylon – the land of their oppressors – so that it may be peaceful and prosperous.

Jeremiah 29:7 says:

Also, seek the peace and prosperity [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)] of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD [YHWH] for it, because if it prospers [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)], you too will prosper [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)].” (Jer 29:7, NIV)¹⁸

Can you imagine that? These captives have been attacked and invaded and stolen from their homeland. Yet, they are commanded to pray for the peace and prosperity of their persecutors.

As Jesus says in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”¹⁹ (cf. Rom 12:21; 1 Pet 2:21-23).²⁰

That said, in this verse, we see the important word, shalom three times. Shalom is often translated as “peace”, but it’s hard to do this Hebrew word justice with just one English word.

So, as you can see, in the first instance, in the NIV, shalom is translated as “peace and prosperity”.

A little more literally the ESV says:

But seek the welfare [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)] of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD [YHWH] on its behalf, for in its welfare [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)] you will find your welfare [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)]. (Jer 29:7, ESV)

You know there’s no shortage of so-called preachers who proclaim a so-called “prosperity” gospel. For some reason, “welfare” gospel just doesn’t have the same ring to it. (Can I interest anyone in a “welfare” gospel?)

And false prophets like to tell people what they want to hear – not necessarily what they need to hear. And this has been happening for thousands of years.

Thousands of years ago, in Jeremiah 29:8-9, the LORD says:

8 Yes, this is what the LORD [YHWH] Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the LORD [YHWH]. (Jer 29:8-9, NIV)²¹

As you may recall, divination, fortune-telling, etc.: these were things that the LORD had forbidden (cf. Dt 18:10; 1 Sam 15:23; Jer 14:14, 27:9).²²

But again, false prophets have a tendency to tell people what they want to hear. And that’s what was happening here.²³ They were people-pleasers.²⁴

Nowadays, as back then, people love to have their ears tickled (2 Tim 4:3). They want you to tell them that their dreams are going to come true.²⁵ That whatever their heart desires will come to pass. That whatever you want, God’s going to give it to you.

My brothers and sisters, nowadays, as back then, this is false prophecy.

Back then, as it’s been said, people wanted “prophecy on demand”.²⁶ They wanted prophets to say that God would soon bring them back to the Promised Land. That everything would be soon be alright.²⁷ That soon everything would be back to normal.

And false prophets were giving people false hope.²⁸ They declared “peace” (shalom) when there would be no peace.

For example, earlier in Jeremiah 6:14, concerning false prophets and priests, the LORD says:

        They dress the wound of my people

                as though it were not serious.

          ‘Peace [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)], peace [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)],’ they say,

                when there is no peace [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)].

       (Jer 6:14, NIV; cf. Jer 8:11)²⁹ (cf. Jer 4:10)³⁰

Now could you imagine merely offering someone who has a compound fracture a band-aid? If their bone has broken through skin, would you just offer them some chicken soup?

My brothers and sisters, in our society, too many times people want to give those who are spiritually broken through sin some chicken soup for the soul – putting spiritual band-aids on major wounds.

People often want to just want to make people feel better. But the only One who can truly make us better spiritually is our Savior.

This world needs to put their trust in Christ’s commands more than common cliché’s. People love to say, “Oh, it’s going to be alright” – even in situations when it’s not necessarily going to be alright.

We’ll sing, “Ooh, child, things are going to get easier” (a song by the Five Stairsteps). We’ll sing, “Every little thing is gonna be alright” (a song by Bob Marley). Well, not for everyone!

False prophets declare, “Peace, peace” when there is no peace.

Also, in Jeremiah 23:16-17, it says:

 16 This is what the LORD [YHWH] Almighty says:

         “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;

               they fill you with false hopes.

         They speak visions from their own minds,

               not from the mouth of the LORD [YHWH].

      17 They keep saying to those who despise me,

              ‘The LORD [YHWH] says: You will have peace [שָׁלוֹם (shalom)].’

           And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts

               they say, ‘No harm [רָעָה (rāʿâ)] will come to you.’

(Jer 23:16-17, NIV; cf. Jer 14:14, 27:9)³¹

You see, even today, some people act as though they are prophesying the words of our Master, when, really, they’re just proclaiming the words of their own minds.

Some might tell others to just follow their hearts and all will go well.

But the LORD tells His people not to listen to false prophets, who want to fill us with false hopes.

You see, throughout Jeremiah, there are repeated warnings against false prophecy (cf. Jer 14:14; 27:9).³²

And, in Jeremiah 28, right before Jeremiah 29, we read of a so-called prophet, Hananiah.

Jeremiah 28:1-4 says:

1 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD [YHWH] in the presence of the priests and all the people: 2 “This is what the LORD [YHWH] Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD [YHWH]’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD [YHWH], ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ” (Jer 28:1-4, NIV)³³

Now, notice that Hananiah says that these are words from the LORD. He is claiming to prophesy the very words of God.

And how many years does he say that the Babylonian captivity will last? Only last two years!³⁴

Just hold on two years, Judah, and God will bring us back – according to Hananiah.

Jeremiah hears this and is like, “OK, sounds good. I hope it happens just as you say.”³⁵ But then, in Jeremiah 28:7-9, Jeremiah says:

7 Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: 8 From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD [YHWH] only if his prediction comes true.” (Jer 28:7-9, NIV)³⁶

Now, Jeremiah and many other prophets often prophesied divine judgment. But people would rather hear about divine blessing.

People don’t want to hear about judgment and sin and repentance. They want you to tell them that everything’s going to be alright.

They want to hear that they don’t have to repent or change how they live. God is going to bless them. They will have peace.

Nonetheless, according to Scripture, you can tell someone is a false prophet if their prophecy doesn’t come true. That’s the litmus test for true and false prophecy (cf. Dt 18:22).³⁷

And let’s just say Jeremiah doesn’t have to wait two years to see whether or not Hananiah’s prophecy comes true, because the LORD tells Jeremiah that it’s false (cf. Jer 28:12-14).

In Jeremiah 28:15-17, it says:

15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD [YHWH] has not sent you,yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. 16 Therefore this is what the LORD [YHWH] says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD [YHWH].’ ”

17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died. (Jer 28:15-17, NIV)³⁸

My brothers and sisters, we can declare and we can decree whatever we want, we can claim and proclaim whatever we want. But if those words are not truly from God, it’s not true prophecy.

We could just be trying to give someone a spiritual band-aid, some chicken soup for the soul.  But, if the words we declare don’t come to pass, we’re engaging in false prophecy. We’re proclaiming false hope.

And, ironically, though people often take Jeremiah 29:11 out of context and give people false hope, giving people false hope is what Jeremiah 29:11 is speaking against!³⁹

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7-30-23 Sermon Slides

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jeremiah 29:11 is a specific promise⁴⁰ to a specific people (Judean captives) in a specific place (in Babylonian exile), in a specific period (6^th century BC). Let’s not forget the context!⁴¹

Jeremiah 29 begins with a letter to the exiles that serves to instruct them concerning how they should live in the land of their oppressors,⁴² to warn them against false prophets, and to encourage them with God’s promise of future deliverance.⁴³

Now we know God is able. “He’s Able!” We serve a God who can deliver – and who always delivers on His promises.

But, though God can always deliver us from anything, as the exiles find out, that doesn’t mean that He will deliver us how we want Him to, where we want Him to, or when we want Him to.

In contrast to their deceitful dreams and false hopes⁴⁴ (Jer 29:8-9, etc.), God was not going to quickly⁴⁵ destroy the Babylonians and take them back to Jerusalem in less than two years (cf. the false prophecy of Hananiah in Jer 28:3f.).

So, as often is the case with prophecy, Jeremiah’s letter contains both bad news and good news.⁴⁶ There is just judgment, yet holy hope.⁴⁷

But, though it will take some time⁴⁸ (seventy years!) (Jer 29:10), the LORD promises His people that they would be restored to their land⁴⁹ (Jer 29:14) – the Promised Land – the land from which the LORD Himself banished them in judgment⁵⁰ (Jer 25:10, 29:4, etc.).

They are not to revolt or rebel against the Babylonians,⁵¹ whom God is using as instruments for divine wrath.

But, of course, most of the exiles would not be alive after seventy years. So this promise is really for their children,⁵² grandchildren⁵³ and great-grandchildren⁵⁴ (cf. Ex 34:7; Jer 27:7;⁵⁵ Gen 15:16)⁵⁶ – if they returned to the LORD in repentance and obeyed His commands.⁵⁷

For more important than the physical restoration of the nation to the land, is the spiritual restoration of the nation to the Lord.

They would come and pray to the Lord (Jer 29:12). They would seek Him and find Him, when did so with all their heart – with all that was within them (Jer 29:13).

The LORD promises a hopeful future for their future (i.e., their future descendants).⁵⁸ God has plans not for their harm but for their harmony (shalom).

And even in the midst of exile they were still to seek and pray for the shalom of Babylon (Jer 29:7).⁵⁹

Now, Jeremiah was known for prophesying that doom and destruction were near, instead of telling people what they wanted to hear. He was a true prophet.⁶⁰

And, if we are to be servants of Christ and not people-pleasers (Gal 1:10), we can’t just tell people what they want to hear, but what they need to hear.

And many of us need to hear the fact that God is not going to answer all of our prayers with a quick fix.⁶¹ We might have to endure certain situations for seventy years – or the rest of our lives.⁶²

And, in many situations, there may not be full restoration until Christ comes back and consummates the Kingdom.⁶³

You know, in a sense, as we see in the New Testament (the new covenant), we Christians are all exiles⁶⁴ (cf. 1 Pet 2:11). For this world is not our home.⁶⁵ We’re just passing through (cf. Heb 13:14-16).

But we should always pray, “Lord, Help Me To Hold Out!” And we should always sing, “Hold To God’s Unchanging Hand”!

For God can give shalom even while we are in exile, and shalom once we get to the heavenly Promised Land.⁶⁶ Let’s continue to pray for shalom even in this wicked world.⁶⁷

Also, what we want is not always what is best. More than anything, the exiles likely wanted to return to Jerusalem.⁶⁸ But Jerusalem was about to be destroyed (587/586 BC).⁶⁹ So, ironically, for them, being in exile in Babylon is the safer location.⁷⁰

That said, though the promise of Jeremiah 29 is not a written specifically to us (nor to me individually),⁷¹ we can still trust in the principle of Jeremiah 29.

You see, through sin, we have fractured our relationship with our Heavenly Father. But by being faithful to Christ, who died on the cross for our sins, paying our penalty as our atoning sacrifice, and who was raised on the third day for our justification, we can have salvation.

God’s gracious restoration is offered to every generation.⁷² But we have to repent and be faithful to Him, seeking Him with all our heart.⁷³ We must be willing to follow and obey the LORD with all that is within us.⁷⁴

For all who wholeheartedly seek the LORD will find Him.⁷⁵ Seek and you will find.

In Luke 11:9-10, another passage that’s often taken out of context, Jesus says:

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Lk 11:9-10, NIV) (cf. Mt 7:7-8)⁷⁶

Then Jesus continues,

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk 11:11-13, NIV)

Dear friends, if you seek the Lord with all your heart, you will find Him. You will find fellowship with the Father through faithfulness to the Son, and be indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Seek and you will find.

The question is: Will we continue with our own plans, and keep on doing what we’re doing… Or will we trust in the Master’s Master plan?

Now, two days ago, I felt one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever felt: my daughter kicking in my wife’s womb.

And, I pray that one day I can see that she has beautiful feet. For in Romans 10:15b, quoting Isaiah 52:7, Paul writes:

As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom 10:15b, NIV; cf. Is 52:7)

You see, we all can have beautiful feet by proclaiming the Good News, the gospel. It’s not what many people want to hear, but it’s what everyone needs to hear.

In Luke 24:46-47, it says of Jesus:

46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah [i.e., the Christ] will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Lk 24:46-47, NIV)

Let’s go out and preach the good news of forgiveness through repentance and faithfulness to Jesus Christ (cf. Mk 1:14-15).

Today there are a lot of Hananiah’s and not enough Jeremiah’s. Don’t be deceived by false dreams and false hopes.

In contrast to that of the false prophets, the plans of the Master are trustworthy and firm (cf. Is 46:10).⁷⁷

So, let’s always trust the Master’s master plan!

May the LORD bless you and keep you.

Most of the prophecy of Jeremiah 29, and much of what follows in the book, is a an encouraging promise.⁷⁸ The next section is known as the “Book of Consolation”⁷⁹ or the “Book of Comfort” (Jeremiah 30-33).⁸⁰ And this section is where Jeremiah prophesies about the new covenant⁸¹ (see especially Jer 31:31-34).

Bibliography

• Brown, Francis, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977. [BDB]
• Brown, Michael L. “Jeremiah.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Jeremiah–Ezekiel (Revised Edition), edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, Vol. 7. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010.
• Brueggemann, Walter. A Commentary on Jeremiah: Exile and Homecoming. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998.
• Cabal, Ted, Chad Owen Brand, E. Ray Clendenen, Paul Copan, J.P. Moreland, and Doug Powell. The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007. [ASB]
• Chisholm, Robert B. “The Major Prophets.” In Holman Concise Bible Commentary, edited by David S. Dockery. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.
• Dearman, J. Andrew. Jeremiah and Lamentations. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2002.
• Gesenius, Friedrich Wilhelm. Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar. Edited by E. Kautzsch and Sir Arthur Ernest Cowley. 2d English ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1910.
• Goldingay, John. The Book of Jeremiah. Edited by E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., and Bill T. Arnold. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2021.
• Harris, R. Laird, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, eds. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1999. [TWOT]
• Harrison, R. K. Jeremiah and Lamentations: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 21. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973.
• Hays, J. Daniel. Jeremiah and Lamentations. Edited by Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Teach the Text Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016.
• Huey, F. B. Jeremiah, Lamentations. Vol. 16. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993.
• Jenni, Ernst, and Claus Westermann. Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997. [TLOT]
• Joüon, Paul, and T. Muraoka. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Roma: Pontificio Istituto Biblico, 2006.
• Kaiser, Walter C., Jr., and Tiberius Rata. Walking the Ancient Paths: A Commentary on Jeremiah. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019.
• Keown, Gerald L. Jeremiah 26–52. Vol. 27. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995.
• Koehler, Ludwig, Walter Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson, and Johann Jakob Stamm. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000. [HALOT]
• Lalleman, Hetty. Jeremiah and Lamentations: An Introduction and Commentary. Edited by David G. Firth. Vol. 21. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2013.
• Longman, Tremper, III. Jeremiah, Lamentations. Edited by W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., and Robert K. Johnston. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
• Lundbom, Jack R. Jeremiah 21–36: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 21B. Anchor Yale Bible. New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008.
• Martens, Elmer A. “Jeremiah”. In The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Edited by Gary M. Burge, and Andrew E. Hill. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
• Martens, Elmer A. “Jeremiah” In Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Lamentations by Larry L. Walker, and Elmer A. Martens. Vol. 8. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005. [CBC]
• Matthews, Victor Harold, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Electronic ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000. [IVP]
• McConville, J. Gordon. “Jeremiah.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 671–708. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
• Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003. [MW]
• Newman, Barclay M., Jr., and Philip C. Stine. A Handbook on Jeremiah. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 2003. [UBS]
• Thompson, J. A. The Book of Jeremiah. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1980.
• VanGemeren, Willem, ed. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997. [NIDOTTE]
• Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel. Vol. 4. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009.
• Wright, Christopher J. H. The Message of Jeremiah: Grace in the End. Edited by Alec Motyer and Derek Tidball. The Bible Speaks Today. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014.