Jeremiah 29:1-14
The Jewish people found themselves “in the world” and dropped into exile into Babylon, a place that was not their home. A place that they had been for a while and it might had been tempting to set themselves apart from all the Babylonians. After all, they were the chosen people, people that had a different set of rules, believed totally different things than the rest of these people. So, what exactly should the Jewish people do?
Jeremiah delivers God’s words to His people and they are somewhat shocking. He tells His people that He is going to keep them in exile for 70 years. And then He says that they shouldn’t isolate themselves from these people, but that they should do things like build houses, get married, plant gardens, seek peace and pray for the city they are in. Pray for the city? This city filled with people that aren’t anything like the Jewish people. And then speaking for God, Jeremiah goes on to say that after the exile is over in 70 years that God will gather them, carry them, come for them and bring them back home. He talks of plans to prosper them and not to harm them, and having His children seek and find Him.
This is not so unlike the beautiful rescue that we are waiting for today. A rescue that will bring us out of exile and back home. But here is the thing that we can learn from this, while we are in exile, pray for the city. Pray for your neighbors. Pray for Bloomington. Pray for Indiana University and all it’s wonderful students. Pray for your co-workers. Pray for your roommates. Pray for your family. Pray for your spouse. Pray for your children.