This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Jeremiah 29:10-14

Dear God, you know I have a frustrating history with the one verse in this passage that is often taken out of context, but I’m going to put that aside and try to look at the forest for the trees here.

First, the you is not personal. You are not speaking to an individual in this passage because in 70 years no one listening to these words will be alive. No, you are speaking to the nation of Israel. Yes, you care about us as individuals, and I’ve been amazed at the details to which you seemed to have paid attention in my life–especially recently–but the plans you have are for Israel.

Second, we always seem to assume that our country can substitute for Israel in your eyes. And just to make sure, our country has always seen itself as Israel’s defender no matter what. It’s almost like we expect it will curry favor with you if we are good to them. And maybe it does. And maybe that is why we have been so favored. But it’s important to remember that we are not Israel.

At the same time, we are Gentiles who have been invited into your kingdom. Jesus’s sacrifice and resurrection provided that path. Thank you.

Third, we have work to do. We will humble ourselves and pray. We will call on you and you will heal our land. What does humbling ourselves look like? I have to say, at this point it feels like the Christian church on a national level has no idea what humbling ourselves looks like. We are striving for power and influence. We are striving for recognition. We are trying to take all of the traditional pathways to power and then let the philosophy of our faith guide our actions. There is nothing humble about it. There is nothing humble before you. There is nothing humble before our neighbors. There is nothing humble before our enemies. There is just self-righteousness, judgment, condemnation, and struggle for our rights. And it’s in me too. I’m very sorry.

Father, I don’t know what you will accomplish in this world during my lifetime, but it certainly feels like we are past the apex and in the decline. It feels like we are Rome crumbling. And maybe we are. And that is okay. That is the way of the world. The way of history. My faith is not in the United States government. My faith is not in the Baptist or Catholic Church. My faith is not in the Republican or Democratic parties. My faith is not in the market economy or my bank account. My faith is in you. Help me to worship you and humble myself before you. Help me to humble myself before my neighbors, family, friends, and enemies. Help me to let go of the judgment I feel towards others and offer compassion instead. Do it all for your glory. And I will accept whatever role you have for me to play in this world.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen