Daily Devotional For Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Good morning Southside. Today, our daily devotional comes from Jeremiah 29:4-11-14:
“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives He has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: (5) “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. (6) Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! (7) And 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.” (8) This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, (9) because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the LORD. (10) This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. (11) 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. (12) In those days when you pray, I will listen. (13) If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (14) I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land” (NLT).
This long passage has a verse in it that is often quoted, but in reality, misquoted as an attempt to encourage people. It is Jeremiah 29:11. All the destruction, devastation and death that has come upon Judah has been by the hand of the Lord. For years the Lord had been warning His people about the future impending conquest by Babylon through King Nebuchadnezzar. No one believed God’s prophets on this. In 3 major campaigns, Nebuchadnezzar attacked Judah in 606 BC, 598 BC. and 586 BC. The wall around Jerusalem was destroyed as well as the Temple.
Nebuchadnezzar took back to Babylon all the treasures in the Temple, stripping it of its gold and precious gems and jewels. Thousands were forced to travel across the desert to Babylon to serve as enslaved workers. Many died along the way. God used their rotting corpses and skeletons to promise hope and restoration through a vision to the prophet Ezekiel about bringing life back to Judah (see Ezek.37:1-14). For 70 years Judah would be living as exiles in Babylon (vs. 10). In 539 BC, Persia would conquer Babylon and in 536 BC, Persia allowed the descendants of the Jews taken by Babylon as exiled slaves to return to Judah and Jerusalem – that is 70 years.
Sadly many Christians take Jeremiah 29:11 to themselves. In the original Hebrew, the pronouns are plural and so the promise is for a group of people called the nation of Judah. And the promise comes from God after He severely punished them for their idolatry, rebellion, and sin. And in 70 years the descendants of these Jews do return home. Some stayed because they had built homes and had established lives and careers there (vv. 5-6). God wanted His people to not just live in the cities of Babylon and eventually Persia, but to love living there. This text reminds us that God not only calls His people to careers and spouses, but also to churches and cities. This is why in verse 7, God told His people living in exile to seek the peace of the cities they were living in exile. I paraphrased Old Testament scholar Philip Ryken comments about this below:
“God hereby commands Christians to do anything and everything to further the public good. Seeking the peace of the city means being a good neighbor. It means shoveling the sidewalk of snow for neighbors. It means cleaning the street where needed. It means planting trees and flowers in areas for beauty. It means feeding the poor. It means volunteering at the local schools. It means greeting people at the store with a smile and a God bless you. It means driving safely, obeying the speed limit and helping people with car trouble. It means shutting down immoral businesses. It means embracing people from every ethnic background with the love of Christ” (Source; Philip Ryken, Preach The Word, “Jeremiah And Lamentations: From Sorrow To Hope, p. 414).
Sadly, we as Christians could do all of this and never bring peace to our city. The only way we can really do that is to bring the Prince of Peace to our communities. We can do all the charitable things we want, but still not bring peace. In verse 7, the exiles were told to pray for the city they were living in then. Have you done a prayer walk for and over our city?
Reflection Assignment: How often do you pray for the city you live in? How are you working to bring the Prince of Peace to your town? Take your Bible or click this link: Jer. 25:9. God called Nebuchadnezzar His servant. How do you think the Jews in Judah and exile felt about this? Where in your life could God have used something painful or someone who brought you pain as His servant to get your attention?
Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 5:44-45, “I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, give me a passion to love my city as You love it. Give me a conviction to pray for my city with passion and to be light and salt in it. Convict me to help bring justice and righteousness to my city. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly