Daily Devotional with Dr. Duane Brooks
October 8, 2018
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.” 
New International Version (NIV)
                 Have you ever been in exile?  Most of my friends on the Air Bases in Germany counted the days to their return to the United States.  My dad, on the other hand, extended our stay for another year – both times we were there.  Maybe dad loved Germany so much because his mother’s people were from Stuttgart (Germany, not Arkansas).  Dad loves to travel and he loves beautiful places.  Germany offered us great opportunities to travel.  We made ourselves at home. 

               The Israelites never felt quite at home in Babylon.  They hung their harps in the willows and refused to sing the Lord’s songs in a strange land.  This is what Jeremiah 29 is about.   “I know the plans I have for you . . .”  Every “coffee cup” Bible verse has a back story.  If we read a text out of context it may become a pretext for misunderstanding the verses. 

             Israel has gone into exile in Babylon.  Their preachers there are telling them they are about to go home.  So they count the days.  Any minute now the Lord will end this exile.  Jeremiah had a different idea.  “Settle in,” he said.  You will be there for seventy years.  Get married.  Have children.  Plant gardens.  Actively pursue the well-being of the city you are in.  If it thrives, so will you.

                What does this have to do with us?  Many of us find ourselves today where we do not want to be.  We are waiting for something to change.  Escapism has dominated the Christian landscape since my childhood.  To quote Star Trek, “Beam us up Lord.  This world is in trouble.  We want out.”  Jeremiah says, “Not so fast.”  What is God doing in our discomfort?  How can we love the place God has put us?  He knows the plans he has for us.  We will leave this world someday.  Right now, though, there is work to do in this world.  Pray for the peace of Houston.  Seek the welfare of this city.  God will give us hope and a future as we pray.
 Pray with me:  
Father, this world is not our final home, but while we are passing through help us to do all the good we can, to all the people we can, as long as we can.  Please bless our city and make us a blessing to it as long as we are here.  We look forward to the city not made with human hands.  But today, let our hands be busy here, for you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 
  This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.  With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
  Joyfully, 
  Duane 
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