Culturally Irrelevant

Sometimes you get popped by a verse you’ve read a million times. Yesterday I’m reading Jeremiah 29:11, except this time in context, and I start seeing this amazing picture emerge.

Rebellious Judah is about to be ransacked by the king of Babylon and a bunch of false prophets are trying to tell the people that they’re safe and that they won’t have to serve Babylon (despite many years of prophetic utterances to the contrary). So God tells Jeremiah to let them know they are not OK in their rebellion, that Babylon will carry them away, and that lots of the temple’s treasures are going to be carried away as well.

I’m guessing lots of the people listened to the favorable predictions rather than the scary ones, so I suspect some of them were shocked when they found themselves being hauled off against their will to a foreign country. They were probably sitting in Babylon confused, wondering what in the world just happened. And to make matters worse, some of these same false prophets started telling them to hole up away from the Babylonians, that God would soon take vengeance on their enemies and rescue his people if they’d just hold on.

But Jeremiah, a true prophet, sends the word of the Lord to the elders and prophets and all the people by way of a letter. In the letter, God tells the people…get this…to increase in the land of their captivity. Not decrease or shrink back or hold on for dear life or even to hit the pause button. He tells them to move full steam ahead and expect his blessings! What?

In a nutshell, he says:

• build houses and settle down
• plant gardens and eat
• marry and have sons, daughters and grandchildren
• increase and do not decrease
• seek the peace and prosperity of the land you’re in, for if it prospers, you too will prosper

God had to punish his people for their rebellion, but that didn’t mean he was through with them. He couldn’t let them ignore the reality anymore, but he also wanted them to see a redemptive purpose in it all. And there you have it! The Father’s heart of unconditional love, always ready to give more chances when we see the truth, repent and come back.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. (Jer. 29:10-14)

God’s plans are to prosper us, to give us a hope and a future…always and in every situation! God wants us to be salt and light, to bring blessing and prosperity to our neighborhoods, our churches and our cities.

God, as we continue to reconcile our hearts to you and humble ourselves and seek your face, bless our cities and our places of work. And more than that, open people’s eyes to Jesus. Let the love and forgiveness and grace of Jesus flow through us and wash over our cities, exposing darkness and transforming hearts.