Scripture Reading : Jeremiah 29
Theme : Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles
Warning against False Prophets (1-23)
Jeremiah writes to the exiles in Babylon, who were taken during the reign of Jehoiachin, about 5 years ago (2 Kgs. 24:10-17). He encourages them to submit to God’s exile and live obediently in Babylon by settling down and serve the Babylonian government. They will not return until 70 years of punishment were over. God warns them to not listen to false prophets who were telling them that their exile will end sooner. God predicts that the next generation of believers will cry out to God with sincere hearts and God will listen to them and return them to Israel. As for those who are left in Israel, they will be destroyed. They are not the blessed ones. Those who are in exile are the blessed ones because God’s plan is to bless them, not harm them.
Judgement on Shemaiah (24-32).
The false prophets in Babylon, including Shemaiah, did not like Jeremiah’s message to the exiles, so he instigated someone in Jerusalem to silence Jeremiah. For Shemaiah’s sins, God promises to destroy him and his family, who of course, are as evil as him. They will not see the blessings that God will bestow on the exiles in the future. God reserves the darkest part of hell for false prophets (2 Pet. 2:17).
Praying the Scripture
Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted verses on Christian decorations. God only promised these things to the exiled Jews in Babylon. He does not promise a smooth and easy life to all Christians, but He does promise Christ-likeness to all Christians (Rom. 8:28-29), which may involve some turbulence. But rest assure because God can help us through any turbulence. Pray that you do not worship a life of ease, comfort and pleasure, but worship a life that is conformed to the character of Christ, who out of love and faithfulness, suffered and died for us so that He leaves us an example to follow (1 Pet. 2:21).
经文：耶利米书29
主题：耶利米给被掳之人的信
对假先知的警告（1-23）。
耶利米给约五年前，在约雅斤统治期间被掳去巴比伦的人写信（王下24:10-17）。他鼓励他们顺服于神的放逐，并服从于巴比伦的执政权柄，在巴比伦安顿好，并服侍其政府。他们将不会归回，直到70年的刑罚结束。神警告他们不要听信假先知的话，以为他们被放逐的日子即将结束。神预言下一代信徒将诚心地向祂呼求；神要垂听，使他们归回以色列。对于那些仍留在以色列的，他们将会被毁灭。他们并不是蒙福的一群。那些被掳去的才是真正蒙福的，因为神所怀的意念是要赐福而不是伤害他们。
对示玛雅的审判（24-32）。
在巴比伦的假先知，包括示玛雅，都不喜欢耶利米给被掳之人的信息，所以示玛雅指使个别在耶路撒冷的人杀害耶利米。对于示玛雅的罪，神应许毁灭他及与他一样恶毒的家人。他们将不会看到神于将来赐予被掳之人的福分。神把地狱最幽暗的部分保留给假先知（彼后2:17）。
用经文祷告
耶利米书29:11是在基督教装饰品中最常被引用的经文之一。实际上，神仅仅向被掳于巴比伦的犹太人应许这些事。神并非向所有基督徒应许他们将平稳安逸一生，却应许他们会有基督的样式（罗8:28-29）；这可能包括艰难困苦。即便如此，我们可以依靠神助我们度过重重患难。祷告你不会敬拜安逸、舒适与享乐的生命，却要敬拜符合基督之品性的生命，因为那是基督出于爱与信实，为我们受苦并牺牲的品性，给我们留下榜样去跟随（彼前2:21）。
