Context

I was listening to a radio program today and they were talking about context of scripture. One lady was irate when the host said a certain scripture should not be used as many use it. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I thought the host did a very good job of explaining this verse. There are some basic questions you want to ask to understand a scripture. Like who was it written to, who wrote it, who, what, why, when, and where and an H.   I forgot the H and am going to have to ask again. A lot of Christians use this scripture to encourage themselves or others when going through difficulties.  The host was explaining this scripture was not written to us today. It was written to the Israelites at a certain time when they had been carried away into Babylon and would be captive for 70 years. When the seventy years was over, God would fulfill this promise to the Israelites. This promise was to those people at that time. for a specific people in a specific place and time. There are other scriptures that a person can use that do apply to us in context. All he was saying was don't use that scripture to apply to everyone because that is taking it out of context.  As I read Jeremiah 29, I understood what he was saying.  Romans 8 is a good chapter for encouraging someone and it does apply to us today. I know I am not the best at this context stuff and am trying to get better. But context is important, without it, you can make the Bible say a lot of things that are not really scriptural. Like Judas went out and hanged himself, go and do thou likewise. Two separate scriptures used out of context and together can say something really outlandish. Remember we had Jim Jones, Waco Texas and many others through the years. The lady said something like if it sounds good and right it comes from God. We do need to interpret scripture with scripture and just because it sounds good and right does not mean it is. I heard a young lady say Church is in your heart, when someone was reluctant to go out into the rain to go to church. Try and find that in scripture. God does look at our hearts, but he also tells us to:  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25   She meant well and it sounded good but maybe it was not scriptural in the way she used it. As for the original subject and host and caller above:  Romans 8:28 and on through the end of the chapter is the verse the host was saying could be used to encourage someone and not be taken out of context.  I probably didn't explain this as good as the host on the radio. Context rules, interpret scripture with scripture and just because it sounds good does not make it true or make it apply to us today. God bless, LVZ.