Israel in Exile and the Church, Part One

Jeremiah 29:4-8 reveals profound truths.

Jeremiah 29:4 teaches that these bad things were under God's overarching sovereignty.

Jeremiah 29:7 gives a radically different focus to Judah in exile than what had existed in the past when Israel became a nation, from Exodus on, as well as in Judges and Samuel. We seek the peace (shālôm, שָׁלוֹם) of the nation that rules us.

We settle down and have children (Jeremiah 29:5-6).

We obey its lawful commands. When God's word compels us to disobey, we do so respectfully, and we never take up arms against those who are over us (Daniel 1:8ff.; Daniel 3:13-18; Daniel 6:10-12, 16-24).

When we look at the New Testament, we find this is the exact same pattern (Acts 4:19-20; 5:17-20, 28-32, 40-42).

This pattern fits the explicit teaching of the Apostles (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17). 1 Peter 2:18-20 makes plan that this qualified obedience is to every authority, good or evil.