 After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the Lord. 2 One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. 3 And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. 8 “But thus says the Lord: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9 I will make them a horror[a]to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them. 10 And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.” Meditation Security in God’s sovereign grace and steadfast love leads to contentment in every circumstance. Paul writes, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound… I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (Philippians 4:11-12). Paul’s open secret is faith in Jesus Christ, promised security for all who trust in the sovereign grace of Jesus. Jeremiah shocks his hearers with a radical promise: Those taken into exile will experience the blessings of God’s covenant and are secure in God’s steadfast love. The first waves of exiles had been taken when Jeremiah had a vision (1). Two baskets of figs represented both the good and the bad of God’s sovereignty. The good were those sent to Babylon! And the bad were those left behind. God’s sovereign grace reframes circumstances and strengthens our security in Him. Exile is good when you are secure in God’s steadfast love. The exiles taken to Babylon were promised to remain in God’s covenant care. “I will…” is a refrain reminding God’s people of His sovereignty (4, 5, 6, 7). God’s promises reinforce God’s goodness and grace. The exiles are regarded as “good” (4), will be built up (5), replanted (6), and regenerated with new hearts (7). Though away from home, the exiles remain God’s people and abide in God’s promises. Our circumstances never define us or determine reality. God is faithful and we are secure in His steadfast love, satisfied in all circumstances through His sovereign grace and steadfast love. Richly Dwelling -Are you satisfied in your circumstances or are you unsettled and insecure? Why? -How does God’s promises to the exiles encourage and empower you to have faith in His sovereign grace, trusting His promises more than what you see in your circumstances? -Jesus Christ secures us in all circumstances and we can endure all things through Him who gives us strength (Philippians 4:11-13). Where do you need to re-root your faith in God’s sovereign grace and steadfast love? Finances? Friendship? Future? Family?... Be specific as you return your heart to God’s covenant care. Key Verse 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. Comments are closed.
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