29:7-9
Babylon was Israel’s oppressor, but Israel was to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city”. They were to pray to the Lord for the city. “Because if it prospers, you too will prosper”. We should seek the wellbeing of our own towns and cities. This was God’s will for His people, it is His will for us. There were and will be those who advocate another approach, but they are prophesying lies. God gives very practical advice.
29:10
An end to the Babylonian oppression would come, but it would not be for seventy years. There are important lessons to learn from this. The first is that everything will come to an end one day. So often we can get ourselves worked up thinking something will never end. As well as not being good for us emotionally, this can lead to us making rash and foolish decisions. The second lesson is that things often will go on for a significant amount of time. Israel needed to live aright in those seventy years, hence the earlier instructions about seeking the well-being of the place.
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