In the readings for our sixth and final week in the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah writes a letter to the people of Judah who have now been defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar and are living in exile in Babylon. Unlike what the other prophets are saying, Jeremiah prophesies that they will be in Babylon for a long time, while the wrath of God subsides, and the people learn their lessons. In God's name, Jeremiah commands the people to get on with living, to get married and have children and build houses – settle in. Because the goal of exile is not to eradicate the nation of Judah or the nation of Israel, but to give them a future with hope....
It only seems to happen upon the birth of a new daughter. Mom will gather up her newborn girl and collect grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, if she is still alive, and have a photo done. It probably centres on girls because great-great-grandfather is never still with us, and great-grandfather's odds aren't good either. So the photo always seems to be five generations of matriarchy! And for the mom embarking into exile in Babylon, the next family photo from Judah will feature her daughter as great-grandmother, and herself as great-great-grandmother, if she is still alive...
There are some circumstances where the concept of a “refugee camp” makes sense. A conflict that is expected to resolve shortly, or a brief stepping stone to permanent resettlement, for instance. But the circumstances of the exile to Babylon are different, according to Jeremiah. “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce.” This time away from Judah will be no mere blip. Like the 40 years that God's people wandered in the desert, learning how to live as God's people, Judah will be in Babylon for 70 years to relearn it. Three generations will pass. And this means that three generations of Judeans will need to be born and raised in Babylon. Despite the extreme difficulty of the times, as a conquered people, God commands them to “take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage.” If you don't, there won't be a Judah at the appointed time. There will be no one left to receive the promise of the land restored.
And God gives an even harder commandment than that: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile. Don't seek vengeance against your conquerors or make trouble in their cities, pray for them. Work with them. Make the city better, for it will be your city too, for the three generations worth of time that you will live there.”
We have a very difficult time contemplating multi-generational projects, like the great cathedrals of Europe. We have an ESPECIALLY difficult time contemplating multi-generational projects of repentance and re-education.
We need our forgiveness from God to be instant. Who wants to pay the price of reparations for our sins against others, and who wants to pay ANY price for our sins against God Himself? You want me to say the Our Father and the Hail Mary HOW many times?
We need our SANCTIFICATION from God to be instant. Why should we be expected to BATTLE against temptation, time after time after time? Shouldn't God just make the temptation go away, all of them?
We need our RESTORATION from God to be instant. Who wants to feel guilty or uneasy or inadequate or uncomfortable? Who wants to spend even 48 minutes, including holy communion, in that kind of exile? Shouldn't we ALWAYS feel at home... with God?... Can't we speed this up?
“The days are surely coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a NEW covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more”. And with the resurrection of Jesus, those days have arrived! Through the righteous branch of David, Jesus Christ, God has restored his relationship with his people. He has sent his son to pay the price for his people's sins, so that forgiveness is a gift, one for which his people can be grateful. He has sent his son to place his law in his people's hearts, AND to fulfil the law, so that in following him, his people can be obedient. He has sent his son to teach, and explain, and show God's character, so that ALL his people can know him. And he has raised his son from the dead so that his people can see an end to the exile of this earthly life, and look forward to a future with hope.
As followers of Jesus, we cling to this new covenant – the covenant Jesus affirmed in his own blood at the Last Supper. As followers of Jesus, we celebrate his reign in our lives as the eternal descendant of David, as unshakable as day and night. As followers of Jesus, we ARE God's people, and He IS our God. And as followers of Jesus, we faithfully complete the appointed time left until his return, attempting to seek the welfare of the planet we're sitting on, and holding on to the amazing hope of the end of exile - going home.
Gracious God, keep us faithful to your son, and remind us that our grace cost him his life. Help us to endure and learn from the events of our life, until by your call, our exile from your heavenly home is over, in Jesus' name, amen.