In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the most popular verses which appear often in Christian popular media. These verses pop up all over the place, but have they lost some of their original oomph outside of their original contexts? This week, let’s take a look at…
Jeremiah 29:11-
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)
Where It’s Often Cited: graduation ceremonies, baby dedications, vision boards, a hasty reaction to any type of uncertainty in life
Sidebar: I never see this verse in hospital rooms for some reason, but given this verse’s original context, that would actually be a very appropriate place!
Original Context:
So you’re a 6th Century Jew who’s been abducted after the sacking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. You find yourself in Babylon with no idea how long you’ll be there, but some weirdo who calls himself a prophet has said God will deliver you. You wait a while and get antsy, so the weirdo offers some clarification: “Yeah, you might as well get comfortable. Find spouses for your children. Build houses and plant gardens. I promise God’s going to send a deliverer, but it’s gonna be a while— like maybe a few decades. But God says, ‘I know the plans I have for you…’”
Yep, this is the less-than-satisfying original context of Jeremiah 29:11. While the verse often gets cherrypicked to inspire individuals or mark accomplishments, Jeremiah was speaking to an entire group of people in one very specific and very intimidating situation. While it speaks of prosperity, this verse isn’t some pie-in-the-sky promise of a good life to come. It’s a challenge to make the best of things in the here and now while waiting on that promised deliverance to arrive. These words are a divine “hold your horses” to an increasingly worried and angry Israel who feared God had abandoned them. They’re also a promise that things will get better, but that it’s going to take time, so you might as well get comfortable.
For as often as this verse gets cited, I wish more people observed its full context. Maybe if we received the message to get comfortable and wait, we’d see fewer Christians flocking to extremism and nationalism. Maybe we would see more Christians really working to make our communities better places instead of constantly harping on about how earth is only “our temporary home.” While, yes, we receive a promise of better things to come, there’s work to do right here and right now. Let’s make this place better for as long as we’re here.
And that’s the original context of Jeremiah 29:11.