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'That's just you're interpretation' is the common mantra quickly quoted when someone dares to point to the Scriptures as being objectively true. Are there multiple meanings? If not, how can we learn to read it right? Today we find out.

Cultural Differences

The original author & audience spoke a different language and lived on a different continent over 2000 years ago. We must place ourselves in THEIR context instead of transporting them to OUR CONTEXT. 

Literary Differences

Is it POETRY, HISTORY, or METAPHOR? We read POETRY in a different way then we read HISTORY, and what about METAPHORS? We don’t take metaphors in a wooden literal way, but try to understand what the metaphor means.

• “Cowboys Scalp the Redskins.” “It’s raining cats & dogs.” “I have butterflies in my stomach”

Many of us are quick to point to Jer 29:11 as a “life verse”. Why? Because we LIKE it! Let’s back up to verse 10.

Why don’t we memorize & quote THAT? Here’s why: We DON’T LIKE IT.

After 70 years, WHO is going to be taken from Babylon and WHERE are they going to be taken? 

WHO is the author? Jeremiah

WHO is the audience? Jews exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon. Anytime we see YOU in this passage, we understand that YOU is referring NOT TO AN INDIVIDUAL, but to a GROUP OF JEWISH PEOPLE TAKEN CAPTIVE TO BABYLON.

  Always Ask: “WHO is YOU?” 

2 Timothy 4:13 (NIV) When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

Who is YOU? Timothy. We wouldn’t take YOU to mean us, otherwise we have to travel 2000 years back in time and attempt to get Paul his cloak & scrolls. 

WHERE did they come from and where is God promising to return them (Jer 29:10)? Back to Jerusalem.

›This is not BIBLE BUFFET, where you take what you like (v11) and leave what you don’t like (v10). Jer 29:11 is NOT a promise to YOU, and it’s certainly not a promise that God gives that you will be healthy, wealthy, and wise. 

• Think about it. The apostles of Jesus NEVER quoted this passage in that way. God’s plan for most of them was not long life nor financial prosperity, but persecution and poverty. 
• Eric Bargerhuff writes: “We have no right to hold God hostage to a promise that we have misunderstood.”

God promised to take the exiled Jewish people back to Jerusalem in 70 years. That means that most of the audience hearing this…WOULDN’T make it back, but their family would.

• There ARE some PRINCIPLES here that apply to all who seek the Lord, but the PROMISE to return people back to Jerusalem is NOT your promise.
• “YOU” was written to the Jewish captives who God had not forgotten. “YOU” isn’t about YOU and ME.

“If this isn’t a promise for ME…then why should I read it?”

The Scriptures tell us about our FAITHFUL GOD! God DID send the Jews back to Jerusalem in 70 years! God didn’t forget his people, even though they had been unfaithful. God has been faithful in the PAST and He will be faithful in the FUTURE!

God punishes those who continue in disobedience. This is true for all people, at all times, in all places. God ripped the Jewish people out of their land and exiled them to Babylon for 70 years! He won’t give our disobedience a free pass (1 Thes 4:3–8; Rev 3:19). 

God’s promises can be trusted.

Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

God’s promises ALWAYS prove true. 

God LOVES to restore those who repent (1 Jn 1:9; Acts 3:19)! God forgave and restored the Jewish people when they turned from their sin and turned to HIM. This is the heartbeat of God & the focus of the gospel of Jesus - to restore people to God.

All of the people mentioned in this passage, TRUSTED God when the future was uncertain, and ultimately looked to more than just an EARTHLY HOPE, but to an ETERNAL HOPE.

These people would have NEVER quoted Jer 29:11 as a promise that wasn’t for them. But they DID claim the promises that God gave to ALL who follow Him - the FUTURE ETERNAL HOPE promised by God to His faithful people.

discussionquestions

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

1. How did reading these passages IN CONTEXT challenge your view of what the authors actually meant? 
2. What are the dangers of bypassing the author & audience & moving directly to personal application; and why are we quick to jump to personal application instead of digging to consider the author & audience first?
3. Share with another believer how you have misinterpreted or mishandled a Scriptural text in the past. How were you corrected and how long did it take you to change your view?
4. Recognizing that God was patient and gracious to correct us, what are some practical ways we might extend the same kind of patience and grace to others who are misinterpreting the Scriptures?
5. Why is it so important to read the Scriptures regularly? Are you doing that and/or what are your plans to read consistently this week? Who is checking on you this week? 
6. Share prayer thanks & needs. Then pray for one another.