Jer 29:7 | KingComments | STEP | Jeremiah speaks in his letter on behalf of “the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel” ( ). God remains the God of His people even though they are in Babylon. Jeremiah in his letter calls the people to settle in Babylon and submit to the authority of the king of Babylon. This means acknowledging God’s judgment. Obedience is the basis for the promised blessing. They are to do everything there that belongs to normal life. They are to build houses to live in and gardens to live from ( ). They are also to establish families there ( ). By settling there as families, children will be born who will soon be able to go back to the promised land. In the city where they reside, they are not to seek to overthrow the authority of their heathen rulers, who are certainly not well disposed to them, but they are to seek peace for them ( ). They are even instructed to pray for them (cf. ; ; cf. ). The result will be that they will then have peace themselves. Jeremiah exhorts them to live like this because their false prophets who are there with them say that the time of sojourn in Babylon will be but short ( ). Therefore, they declare, there is no need to settle there. The exiles, however, should not listen to them, for those prophets prophesy lies in the name of the LORD ( ). Nor has He sent them. True hope is grounded in what God says in His Word and not in the dreams of fantasists. Jeremiah confirms in his letter the duration of the exile. This is at the same time an encouragement, for he also speaks of its end.

‏ Jeremiah 29:7

Prescriptions for Living in Babylon

Jeremiah speaks in his letter on behalf of “the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel” (Jer 29:4). God remains the God of His people even though they are in Babylon. Jeremiah in his letter calls the people to settle in Babylon and submit to the authority of the king of Babylon. This means acknowledging God’s judgment. Obedience is the basis for the promised blessing.

They are to do everything there that belongs to normal life. They are to build houses to live in and gardens to live from (Jer 29:5). They are also to establish families there (Jer 29:6). By settling there as families, children will be born who will soon be able to go back to the promised land. In the city where they reside, they are not to seek to overthrow the authority of their heathen rulers, who are certainly not well disposed to them, but they are to seek peace for them (Jer 29:7). They are even instructed to pray for them (cf. Ezra 6:10; Psa 122:6; cf. Mt 5:43-44). The result will be that they will then have peace themselves.

Jeremiah exhorts them to live like this because their false prophets who are there with them say that the time of sojourn in Babylon will be but short (Jer 29:8). Therefore, they declare, there is no need to settle there. The exiles, however, should not listen to them, for those prophets prophesy lies in the name of the LORD (Jer 29:9). Nor has He sent them. True hope is grounded in what God says in His Word and not in the dreams of fantasists. Jeremiah confirms in his letter the duration of the exile. This is at the same time an encouragement, for he also speaks of its end.