Eig Blog

Lamenting the Death of a City (Part 1)

Posted on May 3, 2021 by eig

On August 6, 1945, the American B-29 aircraft dropped at 2,000 feet high the first nuclear bomb in the Japanese city of Hiroshima instantly killing 80,000 people an area of about five square miles. Japan remained reluctant to surrender, and the next day, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing 40,000 people. This led to Japan’s unconditional performance during World War II. The end of World War II came to an end but not without leaving these two cities decimated (and many more damage of course). Many more people later died from radiation.

The images of destruction and desolation are a solemn reminder of the cruelty that exists in this world. We haven’t been through something like this, and we hope it doesn’t happen to any nation.

The people of Israel experienced the destruction, violence, cruelty and pain of their city in 568 a.C This was documented in the book of Lamentations. In this chapter we see the loneliness of the city (vv. 1-3), its destruction, affliction and desolation (vv. 4-6), its rebellion that led to its downfall (vv. 7-9a) and its cry to God (vv. 9b-11).

“How deserted lies the city,
    once so full of people!
How like a widow is she,
    who once was great among the nations!
She who was queen among the provinces
    has now become a slave. ” (NIV)

The great nation whose husband was Jehovah God (Isa. 54: 5; Eze. 16) has now become a widow. She has no one. The author remembers how it was before this happened. She was a populous city but now been left desolate. The author watches Jerusalem sitting like a widow in her desolate state. The word “How!” is a funeral word that expresses the feeling of “I can’t believe it!” “What a pity!” She was great among the nations bu now she “she has become a widow.” He has no one with her to take care of her, protect her or support her. Not only this but she lost her prominence. She was the “queen” of the nations before this. She has lost her rank among the nations. Let’s remember the glory she had when Solomon took the throne. The whole world knew that Israel was great among the nations because God was with her. But now, the great nation of God has been defeated. She has to submit to the nation of Babylon and pay tribute to her. She is her slave.

The great city of Jerusalem has been left alone without consolation.

“Bitterly she weeps at night,
    tears are on her cheeks.
Among all her lovers
    there is no one to comfort her.
All her friends have betrayed her;
    they have become her enemies. ” v. 2

The widow cries bitterly at night. Her tears spill down her cheeks but she has no one to comfort her. She left her husband God and preferred her lovers. Her infidelity led to nothing. Her lovers, the nations she trusted betrayed her. Judah thought that if she allied herself with other nations she would avoid captivity but she did not. It seems that Judah sought help from Egypt but it betrayed her and became her enemy. The widow cries without anyone comforting her. How sad!
But she not only has been left as a widow, alone, without position and without consolation but,

She has been caught at a dead-end and has been taken captive.

“After affliction and harsh labor,
    Judah has gone into exile.
She dwells among the nations;
    she finds no resting place.
All who pursue her have overtaken her
    in the midst of her distress.” v. 3

This exile has brought her “affliction” and “harsh labor.” This brings back memories of the suffering they had experienced in Egypt. She now dwells among the nations but she has no rest. She has no rest because her pursuers caught up with her and she had no place to go. She was caught.
The account of this event is found in 2 Kings 25: 1-7 and Jer 52: 1-11. 2 Kgs 25: 1-7 The city was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar for two years. This was disastrous. The people suffered from hunger and there was even cannibalism. Finally, a breach was made in the wall and Zedekiah the king of Judah was captured, his children killed and he was taken captive to Babylon like many of the inhabitants of Judah.

Her destruction, affliction and desolation has left so much destruction.

“The roads to Zion mourn,
    for no one comes to her appointed festivals.
All her gateways are desolate,
    her priests groan,
her young women grieve,
    and she is in bitter anguish. ” v. 4

The temple, the most special place in Jerusalem, was destroyed. Her treasures were taken to Babylon. The streets of Zion (Jerusalem) that lead to the temple are lonely. There are no special celebrations, there are no sacrifices and worship of God. The doors through which the people leading to the temple entered are alone. The priests who served in the temple groan or wail in pain. The virgins who possibly had a role in the temple dancing or in processions are not happy but rather sad. Zion “has bitter anguish.” Where did such destruction and bitterness come from?

She is clear about this.

Her foes have become her masters;
    her enemies are at ease.
The Lord has brought her grief
    because of her many sins.
Her children have gone into exile,
    captive before the foe. v. 4

Judah has lost everything. Her enemies now rule over her and those who hated her have now prospered. Who was responsible for all this, this suffering, this pain, this mourning? It was the Lord.

But God is not an unjust God. God does not delight in the suffering they experience. This that has come upon them is because of “the multitude of her man sins.” The word “sins” means “to break” or “infraction.” Israel time after time broke God’s laws. She was warned by her prophets to repent and return to the Lord but she refused. She continued to make altars and worship other people’s gods (Hosea 10: 1).

God “Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins” and “Her children have gone into exile,
captive before the foe.” This is the sad thing. The punishment was for the entire nation, for all her children including the children. These children would grow up in a pagan nation.

Zion (Jerusalem) was vanished.

“All the splendor has departed
    from Daughter Zion.
Her princes are like deer
    that find no pasture;
in weakness they have fled
    before the pursuer.” v. 6

She no longer radiates the glory of God. She lost her influence in the world. She lost everything. Her light was turned off. Israel lost everything. The Babylonian soldiers trampled on her and she carried off her princes, their leaders who were left weak after the siege. They could not against Babylon, they were left without strength. Jerusalem has been left a desolate city, destroyed, and afflicted due to her rebellion.

What kinds of emotions arise in you as you read the description of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem? Take a few minutes and express to God how you feel. Take a few minutes to pray for the nations of the world that are experiencing pain, anguish and suffering due to injustice.

Posted in Lament, Lamentations | Tagged Jerusalem, lament, Lamentations 1 | Leave a comment

La Ciudad se Lamenta – Lamentaciones 1:12-22

Posted on May 2, 2021 by eig

Como creyentes, sabemos que Dios está envuelto en nuestro lamento. El lamento se expresa no solo a otros sino también a Dios. Esto no es tan común, pero es importante. A menudo este lamento incluye, admitir que lo que ha producido nuestro dolor es nuestra desobediencia a Dios. Esto es lo que vemos en este pasaje. En los primeros versículos (vv. 12-17), Jerusalén expresa públicamente su dolor que Dios le ha causado. Ruega que los que le escuchan tengan compasión de ella. Además, Jerusalén expresa su dolor al Señor (vv. 18-22). Ella declara que Él es justo y que la culpable es ella por rebelarse en contra de Él. Ruega que Dios vea su sufrimiento.

El pasaje nos enseña a lamentarnos horizontalmente y verticalmente. Ambos son necesarios para mantener la perspectiva correcta. De otra manera, nos llevará a la desesperanza.Además nos ayuda a aprender compasión de los que están pasando por dolor y sufrimiento. Nos ayuda también a aprender a expresar nuestro lamento a Dios tanto cuando es nuestra culpa o cuando no lo es.

Posted in disciplina del Señor, Lamentaciones, Lamento | Tagged expresando el lamento, la disciplina de Dios, lamentaciones, lamentaciones 1, lamento, lamento a Dios, transparencia | Leave a comment

The book of Lamentations

Posted on April 26, 2021 by eig

In the following posts, I will offer some thoughts on the book of Lamentations. It is a book that documents in poetic form the destruction, violence, cruelty and pain of the city of Jerusalem in 568 a.C by the Babylonians. It is a not popular nor a well-known book among Christians. In this post I want to highlight some of the distinctives that make this book unique and useful for our lives as Christians.

1. It is a poetic book that appeals to our emotions.

First, it’s poetic in its structure. Among the books of the Bible, there is the poetic genre. Some of the Psalms fall into this genre. Lamentations also has a unique poetic structure.
The first four chapters are written in an acrostic form where each sentence begins with one of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapter 3 has three sentences for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The last chapter is not in an acrostic form; it has twenty-two sentences like the Hebrew alphabet.

It is also poetic also in its content. Lamentations was used in temple worship and it was read during the commemoration of the destruction of the temple (the first and second temples). It has also been used by Christians during Holy Week. This book was written not for the intellect but for our emotions. The purpose is not for us to respond with an intellectual response but to be able to respond with our emotions. But this emotional response is not out of control but is guided by God’s truth by showing us how things happen and in some cases why they happen. Even though it may not give us a rational, logical explanation, it will show us God’s perspective.

2. It is a book about lament for divine punishment.
Wrapped in the historical background of Judah’s siege and captivity, Lamentations presents us with a visible disastrous picture of divine punishment on his people. The theology (which teaches us about God’s character and nature; the consequences of sin in a theocratic nation) found in this book is not very popular today. An author says:

“In Lamentations, God cares about sin, suffering, and depravity and does something about them. In Lamentations, there is no ease regardless of what the people of God do. In Lamentations, God is fair, tough, caring, and ultimately faithful.” – Paul House, “Lamentaciones” Word Commentary

Lamentations invites us to join in lament. This is something that is not easy for us to understand because there is no nation that has experienced this kind of punishment directly from God. However, we can learn to mourn how horrendous disobedience to God is and the disastrous results it causes. Sin is in force in our times and the results are obvious. So it’s applicable to our times.

3. It is a book that teaches us how to use lament in worship of God.

In the church, this book, like the Lamentation Psalms, helps us understand that worship of God not only involves joy but also pain, suffering, and lament. The book Psalms has a significant number of lament psalms. These kinds of Psalms include, lament, confession, and trust in God’s sovereignty. Similarly, Lamentations possesses these characteristics.

One author says that, “Praise is the language of celebration. Lament is the language of suffering.” He also states:

“Laments are prayers of petition arising out of need. But lament is not simply the presentation of a list of complaints, nor merely the expression of sadness over difficult circumstances. Lament in the Bible is a liturgical response to the reality of suffering and engages God in the context of pain and trouble.
The hope of lament is that God would respond to human suffering that is wholeheartedly communicated through lament.” – Rah, S.-C., & McNeil, B. S. (2015). Prophetic lament: a call for justice in troubled times. Westmont, IL: IVP Books.

4. It is a book that shows us that we need deliverance from our sins through Christ.

We know we’re sinners due to our innate sinful nature. The evidence lives within our hearts . Our actions many times affirm that we are people who have severely offended God with our sins. Sin is horrendous before our Holy God. We cannot grasp the magnitude of how serious it is before God because we have lived accustomed to sinning. When we see evil, suffering, and pain, we try to find human answers to help us make sense of it. But the truth is that we cannot. It leaves us yearning for divine justice.

Divine justice has already been executed on our sin on the cross. It was our Lord who came to become human like us, who felt our pain and our suffering not only during his life and ministry, but experienced the most severe punishment anyone has ever experienced when he died on the cross for us. It was there, as he called in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) that he experienced the divine punishment for our sins.

Israel (Judah) experienced divine punishment without the reality of the cross. Today everyone who believes in Christ as their Lord and Savior can face suffering, pain, injustice, and even the Lord’s discipline knowing that He paid the highest price. We can look to our Savior and live confidently that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord..” (Rom. 8:38-39, NIV)

The lament of the fall of the city of Jerusalem, the city of God represents the fall of the nation of Israel because of her sin. As we will look in this book, God has not forgotten her and she will be restored when the 70 years of exile are fulfilled (Isa. 14:1; Jer. 32:1-15; Psalm 126).

Take a few minutes to read the first chapter and join in the author’s mourning. I recommend reading Robert Alter’s Translation. Here is a sample of reading of chapter 1.

Posted in Lamentations | Tagged divine pushment, Lamentations, lamenting, people of Israel, suffering | 2 Comments

Lamentando la Muerte de una Ciudad – Lamentaciones 1:1-11

Posted on April 25, 2021 by eig

El pueblo de Israel experimento la destrucción, violencia, crueldad y dolor de su ciudad en el año 568 a.C Esto fue documentado en el libro de Lamentaciones. El lamento de la caída de la ciudad de Jerusalén, ciudad de Dios representa la caída de la nación de Israel debido a su pecado. Y sin embargo, miraremos en este libro, que Dios no se ha olvidado de ella y que será restaurada cuando se cumplan los 70 años del destierro (Isa. 14:1; Jer. 32:1-15; Salmos 126). Hay tres aspectos que miramos en los primeros once versículos de Lamentaciones. Miramos la soledad de la ciudad (vv. 1-3), su destrucción y aflicción y desolación (vv. 4-6), su rebelión que le llevó a su caída (vv. 7-10) y su clamor a Dios (vv. 9b-11). Esto no solo nos ayuda a entender las consecuencias de la desobediencia a Dios con sus efectos desastrosos, sino también nos enseña sobre como lamentarnos con otros en todo tipo de sufrimiento, y cómo lamentarnos delante de Dios buscando su restauración tanto a favor nuestro como el de otros.

Posted in Lamentaciones | Tagged castigo por el pecado, desobediencia, lamentaciones, lamentando | Leave a comment

Viviendo en Exilio – Jeremías 29:1-14 (parte final) – Los Planes de Dios

Posted on April 22, 2021 by eig

Dios siempre desea lo mejor para nosotros, quiere darnos paz, bien y no mal. Pero muchas veces esto no es posible cuando vivimos en desobediencia a Él. Él tendrá que santificarnos. Este proceso no será fácil ni necesariamente corto. Puede que sea doloroso. La primera parte de este sermón fue predicado en la iglesia. Se encuentra aquí

“Porque yo sé los pensamientos que tengo acerca de vosotros, dice Jehová, pensamientos de paz, y no de mal, para daros el fin que esperáis.” Jeremías 29:11

Posted in Jeremías, Los Planes de de Dios, planes | Tagged los planes de Dios son buenos | Leave a comment

Viviendo en Exilio – Jeremías 29:1-14

Posted on April 22, 2021 by eig

La Iglesia del Señor es su Cuerpo en la Tierra con el propósito de llevar a cabo su misión: comunicar la buenas noticias de salvación en Cristo. La Iglesia es el portavoz y nadie más ha sido designado con este trabajo. Este pasaje nos enseña cómo debe el pueblo de Dios vivir durante el exilio. Nosotros, la Iglesia del Señor no estamos en exilio o desterrados como lo fue Israel, pero las condiciones en las que vivimos tienen similitudes con las del pueblo de Dios. La cultura en que vivimos cada vez se vuelve más antagonista al cristianismo. Y la Iglesia no parece que está tomando en serio su llamado. Sin lugar a duda creo que Iglesia, especialmente en los Estados Unidos experimentará persecución y tendrá que aprender a vivir el llamado de Dios en el exilio. Tendrá que aprender a escuchar lo que Dios dice sobre como vivir en el exilio. La Iglesia militante que pelea con las armas (figurado y literal) de este mundo no es bíblica.

El profeta Jeremías profetizó en Israel más de cuarenta años comenzando desde la edad aproximada de dieciocho (627 A.C – 586 A.C.). Presenció la conquista y el exilio. Jeremías les da el mandato del Señor en Jeremías 29 (vv. 1-7), la advertencia sobre los falsos profetas que decían hablar por Dios (vv. 8-9) y la promesa de restauración de Dios para su pueblo (vv. 10-14). Estos tres aplican a nosotros como creyentes viviendo en “exilio”.

La parte final de este sermón se encuentra aquí.

Posted in disciplina, disciplina de la iglesia, disciplina del Señor, Jeremiah 29:1-14, Jeremías, Los Planes de de Dios, planes | Tagged Dios escucha, la disciplina de Dios, los planes de Dios son buenos | 1 Comment

God has Good Plans for You

Posted on April 21, 2021 by eig

In a previous post I shared about how Israel was sent to captivity by God for refusing to obey him. But God didn’t give up on Israel. God promises his people that when the seventy years are over (70 years was the years Babylon would rule) he would “visit” them, and give them his good word to bring them back to the Promised Land (Jer. 25:11-14). God would punish Babylon and put an end to the captivity of His people. Those who would return would be their children and grandchildren.

“For this is what the Lord says: “When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place.” (HCSB and subsequent verses)

God’s good word for Israel (Judah) is that discipline would not be forever. There would come a time when God would “visit” them to intervene and bring them back to the land He gave them as inheritance. God would intervene in their future. If God is disciplining you, wait for his visit. His visit will be pleasant when you have learned what He wants to teach you

In Jeremiah 29:11 God shares his plans for his people:
“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

God’s plans for his people Israel were not of complete destruction. God wanted peace for them, not evil. This evil they would experience because of their disobedience for the 70 years would not be forever. Even there he promises to give them peace. In the end, God would give them what they hoped for, to live again in the Promised Land. But God had to discipline his people. Their sanctification was first, before anything else. This would hurt them, but it would bring them back to their God that they had abandoned. But only the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who would experience this.

God’s plans, in this context, and even for us are not in terms of specific or individual plans for each. Plans have to do with the general future of His people. As for specific plans we know that our lives are safe in Christ. The blessings of his grace in Christ are incomparable (Read Ephesians 1). We know that God’s plans are always good for His people. God always wants what is best for us. He wants to give us peace, good and not evil. But many times this is not possible when we live in disobedience to Him. He’ll have to purge us. This process will not be easy or necessarily short. It may be painful. There may be a lot of crying as there was in Israel (read Lamentations). It is important to understand that our sins bring consequences from God. They’re not good consequences. But this doesn’t change God’s plans for us. His plans are our welfare and peace (shalom). He’ll never leave us. He will always be with us even in the midst of our lamenting for our sins.

God’s promise is given in Jeremiah 29:12-13. First we see the condition and promise:
“You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. “

In exile, the people will realize their evil they have done against the Lord and will call upon the Lord. They will “come” to him in prayer asking for his intervention. God would hear them. In exile, the people would seek him wholeheartedly and they would find him.

Lamentations 3:25 says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.“
And also in Lamentations 3:31-32 it says,

“For the Lord
will not reject us forever.
³²Even if He causes suffering,
He will show compassion
according to His abundant, faithful love.“

God is good, always good. If he afflicts, it’s because we need it. But he does not reject us away forever, He is ready to listen to us when we are ready to return to Him looking for Him. This message is for everyone. If you have not given your life to Christ, you can believe in Him today. God is waiting for you to do that! He wants you to seek him for salvation from your sins. He will listen to you when you cry out to Him with all your heart. Romans 10:13 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.“

If you are already a Christian but have become a disobedient believer, he wants you to look for him.

God’s Promise:
“I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.”

God promises to be found when people seek Him with all their hearts. He would bring his people back to the Promised Land, no matter where they were. God would restore them completely.
Just as the Father restored the prodigal son who returned home after realizing his foolishness, God would do with them. Likewise, he does so with all who are far from Him because of rebellion. He’s ready to receive you, if you repent and look for him.

Posted in God's path vs. Our Path, God's plan, God's plans vs. our plans, God's purpose, God's will, Jeremiah the Prophet | Tagged Jeremiah 29, Jeremiah 29:11 | 1 Comment

Living as Exiles in a Foreign Land

Posted on April 20, 2021 by eig

Israel was called to be the light of nations and failed. This brought exile, banishment from the Promised Land. God used the nation of Babylon for this. The conquest of God’s people (Judah) was inevitable. Their disobedience had come to its full measure before God. They rejected God’s correction time after time and decided to follow their own path of idolatry. God raised up the nation of Babylon to execute discipline to His people. This discipline was severe. The nation was violently conquered in 605 A.C. Thousands of Jewish people were taken to Babylon as captives, especially those with special abilities (this would prevent them from planning to rise up against Babylon). There were three deportations that took place (605 A.C, 597 A.C., 586 A.C.), leaving the city of Jerusalem desolate. Only poor people remained, with few skills with a puppet king imposed by Babylon (for eleven years there was king in Babylon and Jerusalem simultaneously until 586 when banishment was completed). The picture was very sad.

The prophet Jeremiah prophesied in Israel more than forty years beginning from the approximate age of eighteen (627 A.C – 586 A.C.). He was a witness to the conquest and exile. Jeremiah gives the Lord’s command (Jeremiah 29:1-7) to those in exile.

The command is that they must live as believers in Babylon and accept the inevitable of living in a foreign land.

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.” (vv. 4-5) (NIV)

The message is not from Jeremiah to the exiles but from God. He’s just the spokesman. God is the one who is sovereignly working in this event. It was He who was responsible for this exile: “says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.”

They had had it all upon entering the Promised Land. The land was ready to be settled when they arrived. They didn’t have to do much. But their disobedience had now led them to a foreign land where God commands them to start over. They failed to be God’s people by being the light of nations. Building houses, planting orchards and eating the fruit of them would be the way to survive and sustain themselves in Babylon.

They had to accept the inevitable, for it came from God, and accept exile by living in the land of others. In the midst of a pagan nation they should live and remain God’s people for 70 years. Despite this, they were told to live normal lives and be productive. They were to submit to the discipline of the Lord. This was hard.

The parallel for us is very similar. The Lord prayed to the Father for his disciples not to take them out of the world but to keep them from evil and sanctify them in his truth (John 17:15, 17). They were sent into the world so that they may be witnesses, and others may believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:18, 20).

The way we, as believers should live in this world is clear. We live in the world but we are not of the world. We live apart from evil, sanctifying ourselves in the truth of God. We are constantly “going” into the world when we interact with them and we share with them the Good News of Christ.

This involves being responsable for the resources God has given us. God has not left us to depend on government or to live a nomadic life without stability or productivity. But the purpose is not to possess, win, and enrich ourselves but to be to use the resources God gives us for the purposes of his kingdom.

In addition, the Lord commands them to maintain family life and multiply themselves.

“Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease..” (v. 6)

Not only should they accept to live in the land that wasn’t theirs and be productive, but they should maintain a vibrant family life that multiplies (it was God’s first mandate in Gen. 2:15). Many of his compatriots would live together in certain communities, marry each other, and continue to multiply. In no way did the Lord command them to marry and mingle with the Babylonians. The idea is to maintain their identity as God’s people and grow until the Lord took them out of exile.
This certainly implies that parents would raise their children in the ways of the Lord. The Jews were very diligent in this and would now do so in the midst of a pagan nation.

Our call is the same. Looking at the culture in which we live and the influence it exerts on our lives as Christians, it is something to be concerned especially for our children. I was talking about this with my eldest son recently. I was telling him that I worry about how they would raise their children because the world knows how to disciple them and make them their followers. Christian parents today do not disciple their children, they do not even know how to do it and this is alarming. If we believe that our sons or daughters will believe what we believe because they go to church on Sundays, we are dreaming. The work we have to do involves more than this. It is our responsibility as a father and mother to teach them how to live as believers in exile. If we don’t, let’s not expect them to be committed Christians. And it all starts with our own life as an example. If we do not understand the commitment that involves being part of the Lord’s church and do not commit ourselves to being faithful members, what can we expect from our children?

Finally, the Lord commands you to seek the peace for the city and pray for her.

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

The people of Israel prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and for her well-being (Psalm 122:6-9). This was to be expected. But now the Lord commands them to pray to the Lord for the peace of Babylon. Pray for the pagan city that had caused them harm. Pray for the pagan city that would no doubt now look at them with spite. This is praying for the enemies the Lord commanded us in His Word:

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5:44-47)

Loving those who are our friends, those who love us is easy. That’s what everyone does. But the believer is called to a higher standard. The Lord commands us to more than this. He commands us to pray, to love, and to do good to those who are difficult to love.

This is what the Lord commands His people to do in Babylon and implies that God would listen to his prayers there and give peace to the city. And God’s people would benefit from this peace. They could live in peace and multiply to be ready for homecoming.

Asking for peace also involves living in peace. God did not command them to fight to free themselves from them. He asked them to pray for their peace so that they too could enjoy peace. God would be the one who would deliver them and rescue them at the end of 70 years.

Seeking peace involves seeking the well-being of the city and this also means serving. In Jeremiah 27:17 he tells them, “Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this city become a ruin?”

The false prophets told them not to serve Babylon because they would not be in exile for no more than two years. The Lord tells them not to follow their advice if they wanted to live. They must serve the king of Babylon.

We are not in exile like Judah, nor are we being disciplined by the Lord. But the truth is that we are foreigners in this world (1 Peter 2:11). We’re pilgrims on the way. However, these principles apply to us. We can live the life that pleases God in a world dominated by the evil one. But this is not to boast and to condemn the world, but to show a better way to live. We must pray for our city, our state, and our country for peace. In this peace we will have opportunities to share Christ’s message.

Our light must shine not only in the way we live but also in our service in a world dominated by darkness. This will give us the opportunity to share the Good News of Christ, the Light of the World. We have a mission as long as we are in the place God has placed us, until He comes for us His people.

Living in the world by being like the world, adapting to its culture is not our call. Living in the world seeking our prosperity in order to have more and have more “treasures” on earth is not our call. Our prosperity must benefit others and be invested in the purposes of their kingdom.

Application Questions:

How are you seeking peace where God has placed you to be His representative?

How are you contributing toward peace and for the benefit of the community?

How are you striving to make sure your family has a good reputation in your community? How are you teaching your children to live in exile?

Are you praying for those who are not your friends (enemies)? How can you show them God’s love in a tangible way?

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Viviendo en Exilio como Peregrinos

Posted on April 20, 2021 by eig

Israel fue llamado para ser luz de las naciones y falló. Esto trajo el exilio o ser desterrado de la Tierra Prometida. Dios usó a la nación de Babilonia para esto. La conquista del pueblo de Dios (Judá) fue inevitable. La desobediencia de ellos había llegado a colmo ante Dios. Vez tras vez rechazaron la corrección de Dios y decidieron seguir su propio camino hacia la idolatría. Dios levantó a la nación de Babilonia para ejecutar disciplina para su pueblo. Esta disciplina fue severa. La nación fue conquistada violentamente en el año 605 A.C. Miles de personas judías fueron llevadas a Babilonia como cautivos, especialmente aquellos que tenían habilidades especiales (esto evitaría que planearan levantarse en contra de Babilonia). Hubo tres deportaciones que se llevaron a cabo (605 A.C, 597 A.C., 586 A.C.), dejando la ciudad de Jerusalén desolada. Solo quedó la gente pobre, con pocas habilidades con un rey títere impuesto por Babilonia (por once año hubo rey en Babilonia y en Jerusalén simultáneamente hasta el año 586 cuando se completó el destierro). El panorama fue muy triste.

El profeta Jeremías profetizó en Israel más de cuarenta años comenzando desde la edad aproximada de dieciocho (627 A.C – 586 A.C.). Presenció la conquista y el exilio.

Jeremías les da el mandato del Señor (Jeremías 29:1-7) a los que estaban en el exilio.

El mandato es que deben vivir como creyentes en Babilonia y aceptar lo inevitable de vivir en tierra ajena.

“Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel, a todos los de la cautividad que hice transportar de Jerusalén a Babilonia:
Edificad casas, y habitadlas; y plantad huertos, y comed del fruto de ellos.”

El mensaje no es de Jeremías a los exiliados sino de Dios. El es solo el portavoz. Dios es el que está soberanamente obrando en este evento. Fue Él quien es responsable de este exilio, “a todos los de la cautividad que hice transportar de Jerusalén a Babilonia”.

Ellos lo habían tenido todo al entrar a la Tierra Prometida. La tierra estaba lista para ser tomada. Ellos no tuvieron que hacer mucho. Pero su desobediencia ahora los había llevado a una tierra ajena donde Dios les manda a comenzar de nuevo. Fallaron en ser el pueblo de Dios siendo luz de las naciones. Construir casas, plantar huertos y comer el fruto de ellos sería la forma de subsistir en Babilonia.

Ellos debían aceptar lo inevitable, ya que venía de Dios, y aceptar el exilio viviendo en tierra ajena. En medio de una nación pagana deberían vivir y seguir siendo el pueblo de Dios por 70 años. A pesar de lo anormal de su estadía, deberían normalizar su vida y ser productivos. Debían someterse a la disciplina del Señor.

El paralelo para nosotros es muy similar. El Señor oró al Padre por sus discípulos que no los quitara del mundo sino que los guardara del mal y los santificara en su verdad (Juan 17:15, 17). Fueron enviados al mundo para que puedan ser sus testigos y otros puedan creer en el Señor Jesucristo (Juan 17:18, 20).

La manera de vivir nuestra en este mundo es clara. Vivimos en el mundo pero no somos del mundo. Vivimos apartados del mal, santificándonos en la verdad de Dios. Estamos constantemente “yendo” al mundo cuando interactuamos con ellos y les compartimos la Buenas Nuevas de Cristo.

Esto implica ser responsables con los recursos que Dios nos ha dado. Dios no nos ha dejado para depender del gobierno o para vivir una vida nómada sin estabilidad ni productividad. Pero el propósito no es poseer, ganar, y enriquecernos sino para ser usar los recursos que Dios nos da para los propósitos de su reino.

Además, el Señor les manda que mantengan la vida familiar y multiplíquense más.

“Casaos, y engendrad hijos e hijas; dad mujeres a vuestros hijos, y dad maridos a vuestras hijas, para que tengan hijos e hijas; y multiplicaos ahí, y no os disminuyáis.” (v. 6)

No solo deberían aceptar vivir en tierra ajena y ser productivos sino que deberían mantener una vida familiar vivaz que se multiplica (fue su mandato en Gén. 2:15). Muchos de sus compatriotas vivirían juntos en ciertas comunidades, podían casarse entre ellos y seguir multiplicándose. De ninguna manera les mandó el Señor a casarse y mezclarse con los Babilonios. La idea es de mantener su identidad como pueblo de Dios y crecer hasta que el Señor les sacara del exilio.
Esto sin duda implica que los padres criarían a sus hijos en los caminos del Señor. Los judíos eran muy diligentes en esto y ahora lo harían en medio de una nación pagana.

Nuestro llamado es igual. Al mirar la cultura en la que vivimos y la influencia que ejerce en nuestras vidas como cristianos, me causa preocupación por nuestros hijos. Hablaba de esto con mi hijo mayor hace poco. Le decía que me preocupa como ellos criaran a sus hijos porque el mundo sabe como discipularlos para convertirlos en sus seguidores. Los papás cristianos hoy día no discipulan a sus hijos, ni siquiera saben como hacerlo y esto es alarmante. Si creemos que nuestros hijos o hijas van a creer lo que nosotros creemos porque van a la iglesia los domingos, estamos soñando. El trabajo que debemos hacer envuelve más que esto. Es nuestra responsabilidad como padre de enseñarles a cómo vivir como creyentes en exilio. Si no lo hacemos, no esperemos que serán cristianos comprometidos. Y todo comienza con nuestra propia vida como modelo. Si nosotros no entendemos el compromiso que envuelve ser parte de la iglesia del Señor y no nos comprometemos a ser miembros fieles, ¿qué podemos esperar de nuestros hijos?

Finalmente, el Señor les manda que busquen la paz de la ciudad y oren por ella.

“Y procurad la paz de la ciudad a la cual os hice transportar, y rogad por ella a Jehová; porque en su paz tendréis vosotros paz.” (v. 7)

El pueblo de Israel oraba por la paz de Jerusalén y por su bienestar (Salmo 122:6-9). Esto era de esperarse. Pero ahora el Señor les manda a que oren a Jehová por la paz de Babilonia. Orar por la ciudad pagana que les había causado daño. Orar por la ciudad pagana que sin duda ahora los miraría con despecho. Esto es orar por los enemigos que el Señor nos mandó en su Palabra:

“Pero yo os digo: Amad a vuestros enemigos, bendecid a los que os maldicen, haced bien a los que os aborrecen, y orad por los que os ultrajan y os persiguen;
para que seáis hijos de vuestro Padre que está en los cielos, que hace salir su sol sobre malos y buenos, y que hace llover sobre justos e injustos.” Mateo 5:44-45

Amar a los que son nuestros amigos, a los que nos aman es fácil. Eso lo hacen todos dice el Señor. Pero el creyente es llamado a un estándar más alto. El Señor nos manda a más que esto. Nos manda a orar, amar, y hacer el bien a los que son difíciles de amar.

Esto es lo que el Señor le manda a su pueblo que haga en Babilonia e implica que Dios escucharía su plegarias y daría paz a la ciudad. Y el pueblo de Dios se beneficiaría de esta paz. Ellos podrían vivir en paz y multiplicarse para estar listos para el regreso a casa.

Pedir por la paz envuelve también vivir en paz. Dios no les mandó a pelear para liberarse de ellos. Les pidió que oraran por su paz para que ellos también pudieran disfrutar de paz. Dios sería el que les libraría y les rescataría al cumplirse los 70 años.

Buscar la paz es buscar el bienestar y esto implica servir. En Jeremías 27:17 les dice,
“No los oigáis; servid al rey de Babilonia y vivid; ¿por qué ha de ser desolada esta ciudad?”

Los falsos profetas les decían que no sirvieran a Babilonia ya que no estarían en exilio más de dos años. El Señor les dice que no lo hagan si quieren vivir. Deben servir al rey de Babilonia.

No estamos en exilio como Judá, ni estamos siendo disciplinados por el Señor. Pero la verdad es que somos extranjeros en este mundo (1 Pedro 2:11). Somos peregrinos de paso. Sin embargo estos principios aplican a nosotros. Podemos vivir la vida que agrada a Dios en un mundo dominado por el maligno. Pero no para jactarnos y condenar al mundo, sino para mostrar un mejor camino.
Debemos orar por nuestra ciudad, nuestro Estado y nuestro país para que haya paz. En esta paz nosotros podremos tener oportunidades para compartir el mensaje de Cristo.

Nuestra luz debe brillar no solo en nuestra manera de vivir sino también en nuestro servicio en un mundo dominado por la oscuridad. Esto nos dará la oportunidad de compartir las Buenas Noticias de Cristo, la Luz del Mundo. Tenemos una misión mientras estemos en el lugar que Dios nos ha puesto hasta que el venga por nosotros Su pueblo.

Vivir en el mundo siendo como el mundo, adaptándonos a su cultura no es el llamado nuestro. Vivir en el mundo buscando nuestra prosperidad con el fin de tener más y tener más “tesoros” en la tierra, no es nuestro llamado. La prosperidad nuestra debe beneficiar a otros y ser invertida en los propósitos de su reino.

Preguntas de aplicación:

¿Cómo estás buscando la paz en donde Dios te a puesto para ser su representante?

¿Cómo estás contribuyendo a la paz y al beneficio de la comunidad?

¿Cómo estás esforzándote para que tu familia sea un buen testimonio en tu comunidad? ¿Cómo estás enseñado a tus hijos a vivir en exilio?

¿Estás orando por los que no son tus amigos (enemigos)? ¿Cómo puedes mostrarles el amor de Dios en un manera tangible?

Posted in Israel | Tagged Jeremías 29, viviendo en exilio | 1 Comment