The preacher I heard last Sunday quoted part of Jeremiah 29 as part of his sermon. That prompted me to read that chapter again this week.
This chapter has the prophet writing to those who had already been carried off to Babylon. He had long prophesied that this was coming because of the nation’s refusal to live as God’s people. They would be punished, and now was the time. They would be taken from their Promised Land and live in exile. But Jeremiah reminded them that this would not go one forever. God would be faithful to them, be with them, and eventually return His people to the land He had sworn to give them as a lasting inheritance.
Jeremiah 29:4-7 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
The Children of Israel had brought this on themselves. They had been warned, but they did not repent, did not clean up their act, did not stop chasing after other gods. So God carried out His punishment. It was meant to discipline them. And please notice that God was not abandoning them, not washing His hands of them, not giving up on them. He was still their God. He would be with them in their difficult time. He was still their God and would be faithful to His promises.
That is why He encouraged them to go on with their lives. Build homes, plant gardens, have children and grandchildren. And then in verse seven He said, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” The English Standard Version says “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile.”
As the disciples of Jesus, we are not in our homeland. We look around and realize that we are in a hostile environment. That is becoming ever more obvious as we see the depravity and corruption that has become accepted behavior. But we know that our God is still with us. The one who has already paid for all sin and conquered death for us gives us this assurance over and over again.
Just before He ascended, Jesus commissioned His followers to spread the news about Him, making more disciples by baptizing and teaching and said this:
Matthew 28:20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The writer of Hebrews quoted Deuteronomy 31 when he penned this:
Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
No matter what is going on in this world, because of our faith in Jesus, we can be assured that our God is With Us.
At the LCMS Youth Gathering last month, there was a fabulous concert by the group “for King and Country.” Here are some of the lyrics from their song “For God Is With Us.”
Can you feel your heart begin to race?
Can you see the tide begin to change?
With all of our futures rearranged
The world will never be the same
For God is with us
Live with that certainty.
I’ll share more thoughts on Jeremiah 29 tomorrow.
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In case anyone is interested, Cheryl and I will be co-hosting a trip to Greece next year with Donna Snow: Walk in the Footsteps of Paul. The links to the brochure and registration form are below.
https://www.artesianministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/10-Day-2023-Greece-Tour-Brochure.pdf
