18th Sunday After Pentecost. October 9th, 2022. Series

Jeremiah 29:1, Jeremiah 29:4-7, Psalm 66:1-12, 2 Kings 5:1-3, 2 Kings 5:7-15, Psalm 111, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19

A). A LETTER TO THE EXILES.

Jeremiah 29:1, Jeremiah 29:4-7.

This letter is addressed from Jeremiah in Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and people in exile in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1). Jeremiah had already prophesied that the exile would last seventy years (cf. Jeremiah 25:12). Our text speaks of settling in for the long haul.

The letter begins (Jeremiah 29:4), “Thus says the LORD of hosts” - the LORD of armies. Judah had made much of the might of Egypt and the might of Assyria as potential allies to meet the might of Babylon: but there is no might to match the might of the Almighty! ‘You might think that the Babylonians have carried you away “from Jerusalem to Babylon”: but ultimately it is I, “the God of Israel” who caused it to happen.’

When Jeremiah was first commissioned, the LORD used the language of building and planting (Jeremiah 1:10). There will again come a time of building and planting in Judah (Jeremiah 24:5-6; cf. Ezekiel 28:25-26), but meantime the exiles must build and plant where they are: “Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat the fruit of them; take wives and beget sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands; that you may be increased there, and not diminished” (Jeremiah 29:5-6).

In a way the children of Judah were being taken back to basics. ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ (Genesis 1:27-28; cf. Genesis 9:7). Be fruitful! Multiply! Teem in the earth!

This is what their ancestors had done in another ‘exile’ in Egypt. ‘The more the Egyptians oppressed them the more they multiplied and grew’ (Exodus 1:12). To the grief and vexation of the Egyptians, who came to dread them.

The Jewish exiles in Babylon were also told to seek the peace of the City to which the LORD had caused them to be carried away captives. Always remember, they were reminded, that it is the LORD who led you there! And to PRAY for it: “for in the peace thereof shall you have peace” (Jeremiah 29:7).

Jesus taught us to love our enemies, and to ‘pray for those who despitefully use you’ (Matthew 5:44). We are to be subject to those in authority (Romans 13:1), even if we do not agree with the system of government (1 Peter 2:11-17). We are to pray for those who rule over us ‘that we may lead a peaceful life in all godliness and honesty’ (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Sometimes we may find ourselves living in a place not of our own choosing, but the thing to do is to knuckle down and get on with living there, doing the good that we can and most certainly PRAYING for that place (and by inference, for its people even if they are our enemies!) After all, if we are Christians, we are ‘strangers and pilgrims in the earth’ (Hebrews 11:13), but we also have a message of ‘peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ’ (cf. Romans 5:1) for the world around us.

B). A SPACIOUS PLACE.

Psalm 66:1-12.

The superscription to this Psalm is addressed, “To the chief musician. A Song or Psalm.” Whether sung or spoken, it is a call to all nations to “Make a joyful noise” to God (Psalm 66:1). Which God? Well, compare Psalm 100:1, where YHWH, ‘the LORD’ is named.

All creatures, even inanimate things, acknowledge Him. How much more should man, created in His image, bow the knee to Him (Psalm 146:5-6; Isaiah 45:22-23).

“Sing forth the glory of His NAME. Make His praise glorious” (Psalm 66:2). Join the cherubim is singing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory’ (Isaiah 6:3).

So, God is to be acknowledged because of His great NAME, which is YHWH, the LORD, the same yesterday, today and forever. Furthermore, He is to be worshipped on account of His AWESOME deeds (Psalm 66:3). His works of creation and providence, His works of grace and mercy, the salvation which He has wrought for His people at the Cross of Jesus.

The response comes in Psalm 66:4, where “The whole earth SHALL worship thee, and SHALL sing unto thee; they SHALL sing to thy NAME.” (Cf. Habakkuk 2:14; Philippians 2:10). “Selah.” Think on these things.

“Come and see,” begins the next section (Psalm 66:5). These are the words of evangelism. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip to Nathanael (John 1:45-46). ‘Come see a man,’ said the woman of Samaria: ‘is not this the Christ?’ (John 4:29).

What shall we come and see? His AWESOME deeds toward the children of men (Psalm 66:5). The rehearsal of the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt (Psalm 66:6) is also described as AWESOME in Exodus 15:11.