A while back, I bought a study to journey through during the season of Lent. I have never done a Lenten study before, but I just decided to try it this year. When the book came in, it turned out that it was a study on Jeremiah. Stewart just finished teaching the book of Jeremiah for winter Bible study. So the Monday before Ash Wednesday (or Lundi Gras if you’re from Louisiana), I began reading through Jeremiah, really not seeing the point.
Jeremiah is called the “Weeping Prophet,” and if you read through his books of Jeremiah and Lamentations, you see why. He was ministering during a dark time in Israel’s history. Their sin as a nation had become rampant, and God had told them numerous times through several different sources that they needed to return to Him because He was about to send them off to exile. Well, the time had come, and Jeremiah was warning the people of what was about to happen. Yet, they did not listen to Jeremiah. They didn’t believe a word he was saying. In fact, Jeremiah was imprisoned for his message.
But then all that Jeremiah prophesied actually came true. Israel was carried off to exile in Babylon, and the Lord had told them they would be there 70 years. In chapter 29, that famous chapter with the famous verse (which we will talk about in a bit), Jeremiah writes a letter to the people and says this:
“This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.””
Jeremiah 29:4-7 CSB
Basically, the Lord says, “Get comfortable. You’re going to be here a while. And while you’re here, go on living. And even though this is not your city, pray for its well-being.”
Sound familiar?
We might not be in exile right now, but we’re stuck somewhere we may not want to be – in our homes. Even though we may have been longing for a vacation, this is not the kind of vacation we wanted. We may have been weary from work or just life, but now we are weary of this virus that is dominating our air waves, our social media feeds, and our lives. We have plenty of food, yet we open the fridge and don’t want anything that’s in there. We’re discontent.
In this passage, when Israel is in the worst situation possible, God is telling them to find contentment. Not only that, He tells them to pray for this city that is not their own that is ruled by at king that does not know their God. However, God tells them to build houses, plant gardens, get married. Do the things they did back in Jerusalem.
While we can’t do most of those things right now, we still can find contentment. Paul, even in the midst of persecution and prison said in Philippians 4, “I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13 CSB) He had learned the secret – doing everything through Jesus. The Amplified Bible says it best: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].” (Philippians 4:13 AMPC)
Even in this season of “exile,” we have all we need because of Jesus. There is nothing we need. I think one of the purposes of God in this time is that we have not much else to do but spend time with Him. We have plenty of time to read our Bible, to pray, to watch a video devotional, or to listen to worship music. Also, there are podcasts, books we can download and read, and so much more to do that will strengthen our relationship with Christ. What better time to do it than when you have nothing else to do!
Will this time end? Yes. Absolutely. Did it end for the Israelites? Yes, but it took 70 years, just as God had said. And what did He promise them?
“For this is what the Lord says: “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you” — this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.”” Jeremiah 29:10-14 CSB
Did you notice that God said His plans for them did not include disaster? Though this time may seem like a disaster, it’s not. We have a future and a hope in Jesus! But did you also notice that He wanted Israel to seek Him during their exile? And He promised they would find Him. And so will you. God will restore us all after this crisis. I believe it. Right now, let’s be content to just be with Him. Be in His presence. And seek Him with our whole hearts.
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