This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NIV)
It was during his second semester of graduate school that Billy Justice discovered Jeremiah’s prophecy. Something about it caught his attention. Suddenly Billy needed to be alone, to think in the kingdom of undistracted silence. There he could meditate on this passage, assured that no essential point would be missed. He had discovered over the years that meditating on Scripture stimulated his mind, reassured his soul, and somehow forced him to concentrate on the message in a manner that no other exercise could.
Of course, Jeremiah’s words did not literally apply in a modern, Christian context but the prophet’s words were Holy Scripture, so they must have some spiritual meaning for the young theologian. What was the prophet’s message for Billy Justice? As he considered this passage, certain points jumped out at him. First, Babylon was a place of captivity and banished exile. Second, this 70-year exile was decreed upon Israel by the Lord. From other Scripture, Billy knew that the exile resulted from idolatry and disobedience. The seventy years established divinely ordered limits to the exile. Since God had banished his people from Jerusalem, he must have had a lesson he wanted them to learn. What would that be?
Third, captivity was balanced with God’s promise of grace and restoration. Fourth, the exile contained a divine purpose and divine plans. Plans of prosperity. Plans of hope. Plans for the future. Fifth, when the people of God are restored into the presence of God, THEN they will call and God will listen. Sixth, seeking for the presence of God must be an all-consuming desire. Finally, those who seek to be free are blessed with the promise of God. They will find God. They will be delivered from captivity. They will be gathered out of exile. They will enjoy the presence of God again. By this time Billy’s meditation was erupting into loud, boisterous praise unto God.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Forgive us, dear Father, for offending you in any manner. Deliver us from idolatry and disobedience. Gather us out of the captivity of this world. And enable us to enjoy your presence. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his gracious promise and seek him in spirit and in truth,