29 Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, the priests, the prophets and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was 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.) 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying, 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 5 ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their [a]produce. 6 Take wives and [b]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. 7 Seek the [c]welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its [d]welfare you will have [e]welfare.’ 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to [f]the dreams which [g]they dream. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord.
10 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans that I [h]have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your [i]fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’
This passage mirrors some things which happen even today in our lives. Jeremiah sent this message to those who had been taken captive to Babylon. The Babylonians didn’t take people from their lands just to throw them all in prison. They weren’t in chains, rotting in some dungeon. Instead, it was often a strategy of conquerors to displace people and move them around in order to make them more submissive and dependent on the empire.
Also, I’m sure it was a way for them to gather “the cream of the crop” for special service in whatever way the king and other rulers saw fit. Regardless, God’s message to them is to not sit back and pine away in captivity. Rather, they were to go about their lives, since they weren’t coming back to Jerusalem any time soon. In fact, God flat told them it was going to be seventy years.
Meanwhile, they were to “be fruitful and multiply”, not just bearing children, but to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you…” God told Abraham from the beginning that his offspring would be used to bless the world, and here was their perfect opportunity to do just that. Even still, it seems some were just waiting around for death or a return to Israel. In that, they were spurred on somewhat by false prophets like Hananiah and his ilk who promised a quick release.
There are folks today who would tell you Jesus is coming back on a certain date, and however wrong they might be, it would certainly seem His return is imminent. Jesus told us that no one knows the time or day except the Father, but the picture He gives is not one of sitting around waiting for His return. No, the people are working, going about their usual lives, until the day of His return.
We aren’t supposed to sit on our thumbs waiting for that day, but we are to be doing the work that our Father has put in our hands. Certainly, part of that is sharing His good news, and part of that is just like God spoke to these captives. Though we are “strangers” in this world, we are not to ignore it, or segregate ourselves in some monastery. We are to “week the welfare of the city” wherever God has placed us.
You are where you are for a purpose, and you have gifts God has given you for that same purpose. Don’t bury them in the sand like the wicked servant in Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14). Though we often hear that we ought not to focus too much on earthly gain, and that is certainly true, part of God’s plan involves providing for our earthly needs, and using us to provide for and serve others as well. Be like the faithful servants in Jesus’ story, use what God has given you, multiple it, share it, and be a blessing to those around you.