A Letter to the Exiles

The Story

Thousands of people from Jerusalem had been carried off to Babylon, far from home. Their city was under threat, their temple was far away, and they didn’t know what would happen next.

Some prophets were telling them not to worry. You’ll be home soon, they said. Within two years.

Back in Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles with a very different message from God.

Build houses and live in them, he wrote. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Get married and have children. And pray for the city where you live, “for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”

Don’t listen to the prophets who say this will be over soon. “After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you,” God said, and bring you back to this place.

Then came the promise: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

And you will call on Me, and come and pray to Me, and I will listen. You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Reflection