Blessings in the Midst of Discipline

Jeremiah 24:5 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. 6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

1. Jeremiah was hurting from his message and needed some comfort from the Lord

2. The leadership of Judah has been deported Jeremiah 24:1 The Lord shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the Lord, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

3. God shows Jeremiah a symbolic lesson to encourage him Jeremiah 24:2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

4. God wanted Jeremiah to know that not everyone was bad

5. There were some very good and some very bad figs

6. These are pictures of the people of Judah

7. God explains the example to Jeremiah Jeremiah 24:3 Then said the Lord unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

8. God will bless those that are represented by the good figs Jeremiah 24:4 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

9. God knows those that are his and will take care of them Jeremiah 24:5 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

10. He will do good to them Jeremiah 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

11. God will make it clear to them that He loves them and they love Him Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

12. God will destroy the bad figs Jeremiah 24:8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the Lord, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

13. God will scatter them across the globe Jeremiah 24:9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

14. God will hurt them and embarrass them

15. God will cause enough bad stuff till they are all dead Jeremiah 24:10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

16. God comforts Jeremiah by showing him that He will take care of the wicked and those who have honored him

17. Truths to meditate on as you consider this chapter:

18. Good people get hurt because of the sin of their country Jeremiah 24:1 The Lord shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the Lord, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

19. There is always a remnant of people that love and serve God

20. They suffer because of the society where they live

21. What our society does, never gives us an excuse to conform to them

22. Stand for truth

23. Love God and His Word

24. Live a holy life

25. Take care of your marriage

26. Be faithful to the Lord

27. Share your faith in spite of repercussions

28. When we get hurt it should be because we stood for truth

29. When the country goes bad, not all people are bad Jeremiah 24:2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

30. When the country was bad, there were some that God called very good, like fresh ripe fruit

31. We shine as light in darkness, salt in a world that needs flavor

32. God never has a majority

33. There is a narrow road and gate

34. A wide road and gate

35. Few there be that find it

36. God will bless some while punishing others Jeremiah 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. Jeremiah 24:9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

37. You never need to worry about God taking care of us no matter where we are

38. We also can trust that God will take care of sin

39. Even in bad times God plans on blessings for His faithful servants Jeremiah 24:5 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

40. He acknowledges His people

41. He will use the time for their good

42. The more they serve God, the more He gives them the desire to do so Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

43. God gives them the ability to know Him

44. They realize that He is God, the Lord

45. He will be their God

46. God knows they will come back to Him with their whole heart

47. So even in discipline God is working at getting them back to him

48. God protects His people

49. God will judge the wicked Jeremiah 24:10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

50. Great promises of God to His people

51. God acknowledges His people Jeremiah 24:5 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

52. He doesn’t forget His people

53. Even in the time of discipline He is our God

54. God disciplines but for their good Jeremiah 24:5 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

55. Their good was His intention

56. He never wants to hurt us but to fulfill His promise to take us to the image of Christ

57. God is doing good to His people, building them Jeremiah 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

58. They will return to their land

59. They will be built up, edified by the Lord

60. He will not hurt them

61. Builds a special intimacy between Him and His people Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

62. He works in their heart and life

63. He boldly declares that He is their God

64. He has a special relationship with them