8/22/07 - Life Journal - We're in Exile

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."
Jeremiah 29:4-7

I might have taken this a little too far in my amateur attempt at hermeneutics, but it makes sense to me. The Jews in Babylon were basically told to be fruitful and multiply. Take a wife, have some kids! God didn't want His people to disappear! He was punishing them, not destroying them. He also told them to seek peace and pray for the prosperity of Babylon so that they might live as good examples and in properity also.

Here's my take. We are all living in exile from Eden. Ever since that encounter with the "snake" we have been captives of this world instead of owners. Now, we haven't been wiped off the face of His creation but we are being punished for now we are all born sinners. Instead of wallowing in despair He wants us to remember our Father and come to Him for help. He wants us to be set free from the captivity of death. With our new found freedom He wants us to be fruitful and multiply, living our lives in such a way the we will be multiplying others to walk in the light with us, growing His family on Earth until it is time for Him to release us from this bondage and lead us home.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Jeremiah 29:10-14