Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Jeremiah Chapter 29
Metaphysically Interpreting Jeremiah 29:1-23
29:1Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon, 29:2(after that Jeconiah the king, and the queen-mother, and the eunuchs, and the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem,) 29:3by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,) saying, 29:4Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all the captivity, whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem unto Babylon: 29:5Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.29:6Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply ye there, and be not diminished. 29:7And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto Jehovah for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. 29:8For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither hearken ye to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. 29:9For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith Jehovah.
29:10For thus saith Jehovah, After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end. 29:12And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 29:13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 29:14And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places wither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
29:15Because ye have said, Jehovah hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; 29:16thus saith Jehovah concerning the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and concerning all the people that dwell in this city, your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity; 29:17thus saith Jehovah of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.29:18And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them; 29:19because they have not hearkened to my words, saith Jehovah, wherewith I sent unto them my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith Jehovah. 29:20Hear ye therefore the word of Jehovah, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 29:21Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie unto you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; 29:22and of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captives of Judah that are in Babylon, saying, Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire; 29:23because they have wrought folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I commanded them not; and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah.
July 30, 1922: Jeremiah 29:10
There are periods when the thoughts turn to religious subjects, as naturally as sparks fly upward. The man immured to sense suddenly begins to study matters pertaining to the soul; he joins the church, or investigates Christian metaphysics. This is the return of Israel to Jerusalem.
– UNITY magazine.
December 18, 1949: Jeremiah 29:4-14
How can those who have lost their peace of mind (represented by Jerusalem) and who have long been in a state of mental confusion (captive in Babylon) free themselves and regain the peace that they have lost? By meditating on God and aspiring to become conscious of the truths of life, by praying, and by stimulating their faith in the efficacy of prayer and in the power of Divine Mind to resolve all their confusion.
Outwardly what should be their course of action? They should conduct themselves as normal, loyal citizens and do courageously all that the circumstances require, until they have realized their freedom. Such conduct is symbolized by that of the Israelitish captives in Babylon, who were told by Jeremiah to build houses, plant gardens, marry, rear families, and even seek the peace of Babylon and pray for it, inasmuch as peace there would mean peace for them as well.
Does conformity to external conditions make for a quick demonstration of Truth in the inner realm? No. The Israelites were not to expect immediate deliverance and were to ignore the predictions of the prophets and diviners who tried to comfort them with promises. The number seven signifies fullness, and ten times seven years would have to elapse before deliverance would prove the fullness of time for them.
Are the thoughts of Divine Mind powerless to take effect quickly? No. The thoughts of Divine Mind (embodied in the words of Jehovah) are quick and powerful, but the mass of defeatist thoughts attendant on subjection and captivity must first be dissipated. To this end a strong faith that freedom and restoration are possible and practicable must be built up.
Does the captive of sense confusion need hope in order to free himself? Yes. He cannot attain freedom and restoration without combining faith and hope.
When do the thoughts of God become active in us? When we form the habit of always thinking constructively and hopefully. “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
What follows the attainment of God consciousness? Complete freedom and restoration. “I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”
Metaphysically Interpreting Jeremiah 29:24-32
29:24And concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite thou shalt speak, saying, 29:25Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thine own name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 29:26Jehovah hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Jehovah, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in shackles. 29:27Now therefore, why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who maketh himself a prophet to you, 29:28forasmuch as he hath sent unto us in Babylon, saying, The captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them? 29:29And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet. 29:30Then came the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying,
29:31Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith Jehovah concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he hath caused you to trust in a lie; 29:32therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed; he shall not have a man to dwell among this people, neither shall he behold the good that I will do unto my people, saith Jehovah, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-29-2014