3 June 2025

Nebuchadnezzar  had taken the people of Judah into exile. Jeremiah, who is still in Jerusalem, writes a letter to ‘the remaining elders  among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the people’. They have lost freedom, homeland and Temple. He counsels them in their despair.

‘Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters: multiply there and do not decrease.’

His consolation is surprising. He encourages them to continue to live and to resist the temptation to give up. Building homes, cultivating gardens, getting married and having children are the very things which bring hope. The birth of a child affirms life and is always hopeful.

In our world today, young people are not having as many children as in previous generations. Scotland needs immigrants to shore up its workforce. We may well ask, why? Are we living in a society which feels hopeless? ‘Why bring a child into a world like this?’ some might say.

Paradoxically, there  are large numbers of children who have been brought into the world who are living in dehumanising conditions? On the one hand, we are disinclined to have children. On the other, we don’t care for them as we should.

Jeremiah continues to share God’s Word. ‘Seek the welfare of the city and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.’ This is remarkable. How can the exiles pray for their oppressors? Their hope is to be found in bringing forth new life and living compassionately in this strange land.

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