Alas Babylon

Meditations for Ragamuffins

September 14, 2023

Alas Babylon 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11 

The Israelites received this promise from God while they were in captivity in Babylon. The word from God also told them they would remain in captivity for another seventy years before God would bring them home again. In the meantime, they were told to plant gardens, marry, and have children and grandchildren. They were also told to “work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

Our experience has proven the poet Robert Burns correct when he noted that the “best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray.” No matter how well we plan and prepare -- things happen, and we end up facing unintended consequences. Then there are times in our lives where we, like the Israelites, face the consequences of our willful disobedience of God. Regardless of how we end up in the Babylon’s of life, the words of Jeremiah provide comfort and guidance.

For the followers of Jesus, one constant truth guides us: we are the children of our loving Abba. As heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus, we have abundant blessings we can bring to whatever situation or circumstance we face. Whether we are resting securely in God’s place of blessing for us, or we find ourselves in a Babylon of our own making, or we are forced into a Babylon by the actions of others, we are not alone; God is with us, God is for us and God will provide for us.

My Takeaway: When we find ourselves in unintended places because our best-laid plans have gone astray, we can work for the peace and prosperity of the people around us. As we seek to be a blessing to others, we can also hold dearly to God’s promise, “I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:10b-11).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.