The inevitable had happened. As God had warned, Nebuchadnezzar took the priest the prophets, and the people into captivity in Babylon. And there they were in exile. In the previous chapter, we saw how Hananiah the false prophet prophesied that within two years they would be released. His message contradicted that of Jeremiah, and he was proven to be false. So he died in the same year and Judah was still in exile.
A mixture of people was to be expected among the captives. There
were priests, prophets, and even some false prophets like Hananiah who
continued to propagate lies. Then there were the ordinary Jews, some were still
hopeful and a whole of others despairing hopelessly. It was in a time when the
people needed to be enlightened and encouraged. So we see Jeremiah writing to
them with those purposes to keep their hope in the Lord alive.
The letter was written shortly “after King Jeconiah and
the queen mother, the court officials, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem,
the craftsmen and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.” The two people who
carried the letter were Elasah and Gemariah. They delivered it to
Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon to be read to the people.
The letter he wrote began by reminding them that it was the Lord who
had sent them into exile. Hence, they were encouraged in verses to accept their
present situation. They were advised firstly to live life as normal as
possible. Firstly, they were to “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.” They were urged to continue to grow their
population even though they were in captivity and not to allow their number to
dwindle. They must build toward a strong future.
Secondly, they were to seek the welfare of Babylon, be peacemakers
and not trouble-makers. Jeremiah urged that they remember to pray to the Lord for
them. The well-being of Babylon would also be beneficial for them.
Babylon’s welfare was also their welfare. And thirdly, they were
told not to listen to the false prophets and diviners who were prophesying lies
in the Lord’s name. God assured them that
He did not send or speak through them.
The message: Be good and exemplary citizens even though our world
is by and large secular in orientation. We must live lives in such a way that
would make our set-apart community strong. As God’s redemptive agents and must
keep witnessing and bearing to the Good News of Jesus Christ and expand the
Kingdom of God. Put Paul's urging in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 into action. “First of all, (let)… entreaties and prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, for
kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and
quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Savior, who desires all men to
be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” We must intercede for our government and our
nation. And as we do our best to be exemplary citizens, don’t be influenced by false
teaching and indulge in their errors. Stay faithful to God all the
way.
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