September 20 – Jeremiah 29:4-7
Main Focus: The quiet life of the resident alien
In Jeremiah, all the people were taken into exile in 597 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar. The purpose of Jeremiah is to reassure these exiles that God has not abandoned them or forgotten his purpose for them. Jeremiah tells the exiles they should plan for a long stay in Babylon. They will not return anytime soon. The exiles should hope and work for Babylon’s success, for they will share this success. Welfare is shalom (Hb.), which covers all aspects of peace and plenty. The people of Israel were true to their calling when they brought blessing to the Gentiles.
Tim Keller explains that the exiles initially wanted to stay on the outskirts of Babylon to protect their distinct faith and culture. Instead, God commands them to move directly into the city (build houses, plant gardens) while maintaining their identity (multiply and do not decrease). Because believers have an ultimate home in the heavenly city, they are freed to serve and sacrifice for their earthly neighborhoods without needing to control them or despair over their secular surroundings.
He argues for a uniquely Christian approach to citizenship, one that avoids assimilation and tribalism in favor of selfless service. “Aassimilation” is using the city for your personal benefit and “tribalism” is using the city for the benefit of your group. Both approaches fall short of God’s command in Jeremiah, where the Israelites are instructed to “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.”
Christians should be the very best citizens because we enter society with an intact identity in God. We can approach the earthly city with hearts ready to serve because we already have a secure inheritance in the heavenly one. We need very little, but we have much to give. And God’s kingdom comes when believers demonstrate their love for God by the way they love other people. The Church’s rise to prominence in the Roman Empire resulted not from the pursuit of power, but from an unexplainable, self-sacrificing love for others. Their influence arose from the quality and consistency of their service, not the extent of their ambition or the strength of their network.
Discussion questions
– In what ways do Christians today experience a sense of living in “exile” or feeling like outsiders in modern culture?
– In what ways are you tempted to form a “tribe” and isolate yourself from the broken or secular culture around you rather than seeking its good?
– Where do you find yourself sliding into assimilation—using your neighbors, workplace, or city just for your own advancement rather than serving them?
– Do you genuinely pray for the peace, health, and economic well-being of local leaders and neighbors who do not share your faith or worldview?
– How can you tangibly “plant a garden” or invest your time, money, and care into the specific city or neighborhood where God has placed you right now?
– How can you actively pray for or serve the non-believers, neighbors, or local leaders in your community this week, even when it feels difficult? Who can we pray for right now?