Shalom in Babylon
The words of the Hebrew Prophets often functioned as a kind of uncomfortable, but necessary, interruption of the status quo in Israel. For the powers that be, their utterances were often met with harsh opposition from leaders as they called out and named patterns of religious, economic and social behavior in Israel that had strayed away from God’s ways. At the same time, their words provided much needed seeds of hope for those who were feeling the pains of economic injustice, pervasive sin, abusive power structures, and cultural capitulation. Despite what it might seem on the surface of things, all was not lost! For those willing to listen, the Hebrew prophets offered the possibility of a different way forward for Israel, a good future anchored in the loving character and abundant provision of Yahweh above all.
Although originally spoken thousands of years ago, the words of the Hebrew Prophets have a surprising relevance to the times we are living in today. They ring true in the kinds of problems they name, the prescriptions they give for positive change, and the promises they offer as a basis for hope. Above all, their words call us back to the enduring love and faithfulness of Yahweh for those who trust and follow Him.
In this first message in this series on Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Aaron focused on Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles in Babylon in Jeremiah 29. He talked about what Bryan Zahnd calls the “delicate dance between belonging and not belonging” that the people of God in the world are often called to navigate and discern, and how Jeremiah’s letter provides directions and promises that the church can continue to trust and apply as we seek to embody a missional posture in our communities.
