Scripture Text (NRSV)
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
29:1 These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah
sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to
the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had
taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
29:4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the
exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
29:5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they
produce.
29:6 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.
29:7 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.
Comments:
From Jerusalem during the years of exile, Jeremiah sends a letter to
those in Babylon encouraging them, while they live in this strange and
alien place, to be in ministry for the sake of their Babylonian
neighbors.
The prophet is painting a picture of God's mercy in this reading. The
people are given a vision of hope in the midst of exile: they will
plant and live fruitfully in the foreign land. Though the
understanding of the exile is that it is the judgment of God for their
unfaithfulness, and it appears that it will be long-standing (their
children's children will have children), here the prophet affirms that
God is present to them to guide them. They are instructed to seek the
welfare of the city, thereby securing their own welfare.
What would it mean for us to pray for our enemies? Could it be that
our welfare is tied up in the welfare of those whom we call
terrorists?
possible title: "Bloom Where You're Planted" Newbee from Okee
God given directions in a time of disaster is a good thing!
Keep living, be faithful, multiply, talk to God!
When Jerimiah wants prayer for the city, is He pointing to Jesus, or
to the actual welfare of the city, with God given implications for all
it's citizens?
Please respond if you have any insights, either of these options has
interesting ramifications!
RZS in Pa.
Oops, I misunderstood where the prayer was directed to in verse 27. At
first reading, I thought it refered to Jerusalem. Upon more study, I
see they are directed to pray for the neighborhood they presently live
in. In some ways we are all in exile from God, due to our "condition"
(sin). Through the church (people in our neighborhood), can edify and
help stengthen our bonds with God. We, too, need to pray for the city
to which we have been sent, our neighborhood, our church, state,
country, etc.
Again, it shows that although God knows everything, He still likes to
hear from us!
RZS in Pa.
seek the welfare of the city where they're in exile - now that's where
the rubber hits the road.
sally
Last Sunday, we focused on the Lamentations and Psalm 137
passages--written when the sting of exile was still fresh. A lot of
complaining and bitter revenge language, and rightly so.
This week, we look at Jeremiah, who seems to be communicating from
God, "Get over it! Stop complaining and make the best of a bad
situation!"
I've been working with the theme these two weeks of faith in exile--a
state many of us find ourselves in from time to time, whether
externally imposed or internally imposed. What implications could this
passage have on the way we interact with the culture and society
around us? What are the issues of welfare that need to be fought out
by Christians in today's world, and how do we go about it?
Newbee--thanks for the reminder of "Bloom where you are planted." I
have a poster on my wall that says that!
I'm taking "Looking After #1" as my title (#1 being the concerns of
those around us, rather than ourselves, as we are inclined to do)
-David Mac in Ohio
An interesting passage for one who is wondering if their town is dead,
not worth living in, a dead end for ministry. For those that feel
exiled where they live, Does God want you to give up just yet?
I think it's entirely appropriate for us to interpret this in the
light of Christ's teaching, to pray for those among whom we live, even
though they are our enemies. But I think, in context, something else
is going on here. After all the words of condemnation and impending
doom, doom has finally arrived. It would have been very understandable
if the people had believed that, since God's threatened punishment was
upon them, God had surely abandoned them.
Jeremiah's words to them were words of great hope. God tells the
people "multiply there, and do not decrease." (v.6) If they were truly
abandoned by God and no longer God's people, then God surely would not
have cared if they disappeared into oblivion, completely absorbed into
their captors. But God tells them to multiply and prosper. They are
still God's people! God may be punishing them, but has not abandoned
them! Therefore, the message to pray for Babylon's peace isn't so much
for love of neighbor as it is to preserve the people of God who live
among them.
As I said, we see this through the teachings of Jesus, and that is
good. But there is another message here for the Church: we live in
perilous times, times when we see very clearly that this world is an
alien land. We are not to grow despondent, nor say "how can we sing
the Lord's song in a strange land" (last week's psalm. Everything is
as God has told us it would be; but we are not abandoned. God is still
with us. We are called to make our homes here for now, to prosper and
grow. And how does the church grow? Never by inheritance alone. We are
to call our neighbors from out of Babylon, and into the people of God.
Ken in WV
Thinking entitling my sermon: Live where you live. Where are our
people in "exile". Do we keep living when confronted with despair
caused by any number of reasons? It takes faith to 'trace the rainbow
through the rain, and feel the promise is not in vain. Deke of the
North
Hi all, I'm also preaching on exile. I am a chaplain in a retirement
community. Many people find themselves here to be nearer to daughter
or son only to find that family members have a busy life. They come to
have community but this is not "home". When poor health visits with a
permanance...one can truly feel in exile. Exiled from the life they
once knew. Especially when the driver's licsense is gone. But we feel
in exile when we are depressed. get married and move away from family,
find a new job, find ourselves in a place where we don't seem to fit
or belong. Bootcamp, Iraq, Afghanistan. Misionaries working for God
with all the good intentions in the world find themselves outsiders
and lonely. Pastors in a troubled church feel misunderstood,
persecuted, isolated. There are many times when we feel like an exile.
New kid, new school...and so on. Where is God in this? Where is my
faith? Where is my relationship with God. Sometimes we need a word
from someone who knows us. Someone from "home" who can encourage us to
lean on our faith, take courage, and move forward. In other words I
think Jeremiah is saying get on with life. Quit pining for the past
and look at the blessings of the now. There is work to be done in this
new place. Maybe being sent into exile is really a calling and a way
that God has of shaping and growing us. It's all in how you frame it.
Colorado Chaplain
How does this scripture relate to those who are forced into exile
today (literally)? The message of "bloom where you are planted" is
good, practical advice. But how about the question of justice? Should
we quietly accept the lot of exiles without trying to return them to
their homes?
DGinNYC
We have a good number of immigrants in our congregation, or people who
are in the US temporarily for work. We are helping them to learn
English and get involved in the community while they are here. It's
good for them, and good for us. But that is not quite the same as
being forced into exile, with no option to return home.
??? DGinNYC
Any insights about how this relates to the lepers in the gospel? Like
Deke in the North my sermon is entitled, "live where you live" and I
love this text from Jeremiah. I think there is more than a thread that
is connecting the two passages but I am going to sleep on it for now.
Avis in MA
I am more and more aware just how much the church has been unwilling
to "pray for the welfare of the city" The church I serve started in a
predominantly rural area, and the area around us still regards us as a
small country church, even though we are now located in the fastest
growing part of town- where all the doctors and lawyers live- but we
are steadily losing members.
Part of it is an attitude that the church's job is to take care of the
members (Jesus to his disciples "make sure you've got a nice building,
some congenial people, take good care of yourselves and forget
everybody else- oh, and be sure not to charge the members anythng to
use the church building. but be sure to charge non-members- after all,
thery're not paying to support the the church" Isn't that what Jesus
said?)
If I keep banging on the need for change, maybe someone will listen.
This passage says to me that you don't get to choose the where, the
when, or even the way where you serve God. One guy is mad at me
because I haven't been picking out hymns that he knows (but will he
help pick them out?- no, but he really doesn't sing the songs he knows
either. Will anyone else help me pick them out.- no-no. Do some of the
ones that some of the people want to sing really stink?- oh, yes
I was at a presbytery sponsored event two weekends ago, and on of the
workshops was on energizing the church for the 21st century. One of
the leaders described the kind of worship that we do where I serve,
and he said, "How nineteenth century.
Long way of saying, that we need to pay attention to the times that
surround us.
grace and peace;
revgilmer in texarkana
Wow! If you want to read about exile (Jer.), and leprosy (gospel), and
cause for praise(Psalms), do what I just did...type kaluapapa into
your search engine and read about the exile of sick Hawaiians (How do
you spell that word?) and the life of those who have various skin
diseases. I did so after reading a post on the Psalms thread. lkinhc
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. (Jeremiah 29:7)
Heaven on Earth We need it now I'm sick of all of this Hanging around
Sick of sorrow I'm sick of the pain I'm sick of hearing Again and
again That there's gonna be Peace on Earth
Pray for our city. Pray for our country. Paricipate in seeking justice
-- in politics, in the Church, in service, in prayer, in education...
Thanks for the thoughts! Carrie in NY
