“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take 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; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord. For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” (Jeremiah 29:4–14)

This letter in Jeremiah 29 was sent from Jerusalem to the exiles in Babylon (see verse 1), but it was not written personally by Jeremiah. According to verse 3, it was delivered “by the hand of Elasah” (and another man). That’s interesting! It shows that the book of Jeremiah is actually a collection of his prophecies and messages/writings, many of which were apparently sent by others and collected over time in what we now call the book of Jeremiah. Pretty cool!

Also, later in verses 24–28, we learn that a false prophet named Shemaiah had sent his own letter to Jerusalem, claiming to speak for God and even attacking Jeremiah. That false letter must have been written and sent before Jeremiah’s letter arrived. But God’s true word prevailed! Today we only know about the false letter because the true one exposed and refuted it. What a powerful reminder that God preserves His word and causes it to triumph over every counterfeit!

We must take it more seriously than the lost letters!

We can trust Jesus over whatever non believing biased scholar says about Jesus and His Word!

“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” – Psalm 119:97-104