Serving the City

Overview

When Babylon conquered Israel after Israel’s rebellion, they took the professional classes and leaders of Israel and brought them into exile in Babylon. Why? Because they expected that these leaders would then assimilate and no longer resist.

Because the exiles knew Babylon’s strategy, they refused to move into the city. They settled outside. But then they got a letter from God through Jeremiah and it’s absolutely shocking. And it describes what the people of God’s relationship to this great pluralistic pagan city should be.

Essentially, God says three things: 1) live and settle there, don’t separate or withdraw, 2) respectfully resist there, don’t assimilate, and 3) sacrificially love there.