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what are the practical implications of 'seeking the peace' of our communities today, especially in complex situations?

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 you will have shalom.”

The prophet Jeremiah writes a letter to Jewish exiles living in Babylon, after Jerusalem has been conquered and many of its people taken captive. He advises them on how to live in their new, foreign environment, contrary to some who were promising a swift return.

How might seeking the flourishing of a place that feels alien or even hostile contribute to our own well-being today?

Then — the setting

This passage comes from Jeremiah's letter (often called the 'Letter to the Exiles'), written around 594 BCE. The exiles were Jews forcibly removed from their homeland of Judah and resettled in Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem. They were a disheartened and disoriented people, yearning for immediate return and listening to prophets who promised a quick end to their captivity. Jeremiah's message was counter-cultural and shocking, telling them to settle down, build homes, plant gardens, and pray for the well-being of their pagan captors, rather than resisting or clinging to false hopes of a swift return.

Across the Testaments

In the Old Testament, 'shalom' is a rich concept encompassing peace, wholeness, prosperity, and well-being, often tied to God's covenant with Israel and the blessings of the land. Jeremiah's call extends this beyond Israel's borders to a foreign, oppressing city. The New Testament picks up and expands this theme through Jesus' teachings, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, where he blesses the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and commands his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). This shifts the focus from a specific physical city to a broader command for active engagement in seeking reconciliation and welfare for all people, even those seen as adversaries, understanding that this contributes to a more universal 'shalom'.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Matthew 5:9
Jesus calls those who make peace 'children of God', echoing the active pursuit of peace.
Romans 12:18
Paul encourages living peaceably with all people, if possible, reflecting a similar outward orientation.
Psalm 122:6
This psalm speaks of praying for the 'shalom' of Jerusalem, showing a long-standing tradition of seeking the city's well-being.

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