thinking bible.

You asked

where do i find myself in 'exile' or a place i don't feel belongs to me, and how might i seek its peace?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Jeremiah 29:7

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

The prophet Jeremiah wrote this letter in the early 6th century BCE to the Jewish exiles who had been taken from Jerusalem to Babylon. They were suffering the loss of their home and temple, and Jeremiah was responding to false prophets who were promising a swift return, encouraging them instead to settle in for a longer stay and contribute to their new society.

What does it mean to sincerely seek the good of a place or situation that feels imposed or unwanted?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Psalm 137

    This psalm expresses the deep sorrow and longing of the exiles in Babylon, contrasting with Jeremiah's practical advice.

  • Daniel 2:17-19

    Daniel, living in Babylonian exile, seeks divine wisdom for the king, illustrating a way an exile contributed to the 'city's' welfare.

  • 1 Peter 2:11-12

    The apostle Peter encourages Christians to live honorably as 'aliens and strangers' in the world, seeking the good of their communities.

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