The Captives’ Cry
and when you seek for me you will find me, when you search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Seek/Search – How many times have you heard this verse given as motivation for seeking God? It seems to be a favorite when we need exhortation and encouragement. But how many of us know anything about its context? When God tells the children of Israel that they will need to seek Him with all their hearts, His words have a very important setting. Without the setting, the real message gets lost.
Jeremiah was a prophet of the Babylonian captivity. Terrible things were coming upon disobedient Israel. The truth is that God loved Israel so much that He punished them severely in order for them to confront their spiritual adultery. His punishment leveled the once great nation. It sent many to the grave and many more into bondage in Babylon. No one welcomed Jeremiah’s pronouncement. In fact, there were all kinds of self-proclaimed naysayers who told the people that “don’t worry, be happy, God would never do such terrible things.” How wrong they were!
But Jeremiah does not leave Israel with doom and gloom. God will hear them and restore them – after they are obedient to His command about the context. God’s desire for restoration is not unusual, but the context is shocking. It’s found in verse 7. God tells His people to “seek the well-being of the city” of Babylon. Can you imagine that? These people have been hauled off by invaders, and God tells them to actively pursue the prosperity and good will for their captors! He tells them to settle down in enemy territory and do all that they can to make life better for the bad guys. God uses the word that means studying and inquiring into His Law when He tells His people to seek shalom for the enemies. Then – and only then – will they be ready to search for Him.
Oh, by the way, there are two different Hebrew words in verses 12 and 13 translated by the English words “seek” and “search.” The first is baqash. It means to try to obtain, in particular, to obtain the presence of someone. When the people try to obtain God’s presence, He will be prepared to receive them, after they seek shalom for their enemies. The second word is darash, the word used in verse 7 and again in verse 13. Searching for God with all your heart is intimately connected with honoring, examining and obeying His word. Did you notice that God does not ask His people to seek (barash) the presence of the Babylonian conquerors? Pursing presence is reserved for Him. But He does request His people to darash (examine and inquire after) shalom for the enemies. How is that done? By obeying His word, of course.
Go ahead and use this verse when things get tough. But remember the context. Do you expect God to come running to your rescue when your enemies know nothing except your disdain and hostility? Do you think God’s compassion belongs only to you?
Topical Index: Compassion, Enemy
