"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord .
Jeremiah 29:4-9 ESV
Rev. Dwight Yoo
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There were multiple prophets in the time of Jeremiah. Hannaniah was saying that it would be a short stay in exile. But Jeremiah was saying that they should prepare to be there for seventy years. Plant gardens and continue to be married and give away children in marriage. This was a multi-generational stay in Babylon.
This is a specific prophet speaking a message for a specific place and time, yet we can still look at it for us to apply in our lives. There is something that we face now that no one in the old or new testament had to face. There is a lack of rootedness to our lives in the States. More than 1 out of 4 Americans have moved in the past five years. Americans have moved 11 times in their lives. The people of these times were largely agricultural.. They were born, married, made friends, and likely died on the same place.
Rootedness enables the gospel to move not only in your life but through your life. "A rooted life in a place", an article on the gospel coalition website speaks on the danger of the unrooted life. There is power in sticking to a place and devoting time and energy to bettering that place. That can allow us to be a heading presence.
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Jeremiah never said what the Israelites wanted to hear. The Babylonians were the ones who tore open pregnant women and dashed babies against the city walls. Jeremiah said that they were to work and pray for the good of THESE people. God had not given up on Israel. God wanted them to engage this city even though the Israelites were hated and despised by them. This is called engaged alienation. Jesus calls all Christians to this as well. Do good to those who hate and persecute you. We are still called to it today in this day and age. We are not to assimilate, but not disengage either. The way that we can thrive is not to disengage in self protection or assimilate to the culture, but to engage even while alienated.
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We are to aim for Shalom. Universal thriving and flourishing... All is as it should be. Right not in our eyes, but in the eyes of God. To work for Shalom means to bring wholeness. Spiritual flourishing. Relational flourishing. Physical flourishing. We are not to expect perfection in our work towards shalom in our city, but progress. This earthly city should reflect, through our prayers and work, some aspects of our heavenly home. We will find our thriving in seeking the good of this city.
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