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how can a community seek the 'shalom' of a divided city without compromising its own values or identity?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Jeremiah 29:7

“Seek the shalom of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its shalom will be your shalom.”

This verse is part of a letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish people exiled in Babylon, sent in the early 6th century BCE. They had been forcibly removed from their homeland and were now living in a foreign, often hostile, culture. Jeremiah advises them on how to live during this long period of exile.

What does 'seeking the shalom of the city' practically look like for our communities today, especially when our values may differ from the wider society?

Then — the setting

Jeremiah wrote this letter around 597 BCE to the first wave of Judahite exiles in Babylon. These were people uprooted from their homeland, their temple, and their traditional way of life. The advice to 'seek the shalom of the city' was radical, as many likely hoped for Babylon's downfall and a swift return to Jerusalem. Jeremiah, however, challenged them to integrate and contribute to the well-being of their captors' city, suggesting a long-term future there rather than immediate escape.

Across the Testaments

This passage is in the Old Testament, offering a vision for a distinct people living faithfully within a foreign empire. The New Testament picks up this theme in various ways. For instance, Jesus's teaching on loving neighbors and even enemies (Matthew 5:43-48) and Peter's instruction to 'live as aliens and strangers' who 'submit to human institutions' and 'do good' (1 Peter 2:11-17) reflect a similar call for constructive engagement and contribution to the wider society, even when that society is not aligned with one's own faith or values. Both testaments affirm that a distinctive identity does not preclude, but rather empowers, a commitment to the common good.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Romans 12:18
Paul encourages living peaceably with everyone, echoing the call to positive engagement.
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus calls his followers 'salt and light,' implying a positive influence within society.
Psalm 122:6-9
This psalm speaks of praying for the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem, linking personal well-being to the city's state.

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