Sojourners and Exiles

Jeremiah was the prophet of God to Judah warning of the coming Babylonian exile and after. In chapter 29, Jeremiah gave instructions to the exiles. We all know that amazing, "'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares YHWH, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you'" (Jer 29:11-12). Good stuff. The rather odd stuff, then, is what came before.

Thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, "Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 'Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to YHWH on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." (Jer 29:4-7)

Seems really strange, doesn't it? We're talking about their assailants, their captors. "Live among them. Make a life." More strange, though, was that last. "Seek the welfare of the city" and "pray to YHWH on its behalf." Umm, they're the enemy. Why would the Jewish exiles do that? Well, God answers that. "In its welfare, you will have welfare." "Okay. I guess. Seems strange to seek the welfare of those who destroyed your homes and carried you off into captivity, but ... if that's what He says, that's what we should do."

At this highly-charged time in our nation -- politically emotionally, morally, etc. -- it's worth a consideration for believers here. We know that "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). We know that we are "sojourners and exiles" here (1 Peter 2:11). We are not of the world (John 17:16), but simply ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). So what is our duty to this world system, this political existence, this place where we temporarily reside? I would argue that Jeremiah's words are applicable to each Christian today. "Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to God on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." Our allegiance is not to family first or Republicans first or America first, but to Christ. As such, our primary concern is not politics or party, but Christ. Still, we must not simply withdraw, as some are tempted to do. We must involve ourselves in our surrounding world for its well-being until we are released to go home. In the well-being of the place we live we will find (temporary) well-being. In fact, our relationship with Christ supplies us with both the best source for well-being and the best definition for well-being (and it's not what the world thinks). It only makes sense.