Read: Daniel 9:1-19
Then I turned my face to the Lord God. (v. 3)
There are almost no cross-references between the book of Daniel and the other Old Testament accounts of the exile. This gives the impression that Daniel was isolated from, and ignorant of, his fellow captives and their stories. But in chapter 9, we discover that Daniel had access to the prophecies of Jeremiah. This prophecy prompted Daniel to pray. Remarkably, Daniel didn’t pray for his people’s rescue. He prayed for their repentance and reconciliation to God. Because, it turns out, that’s the way home.
In Jeremiah 29, God promised that his people would leave Babylon after seventy years. More significantly, he promised: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13). The lesson of the exile is that home is not a political territory or plot of land. Home is heart communion with God. Daniel never returned to Jerusalem. But in his prayer in response, he sought God with all his heart. In exile, he found his true home.
God’s promise, through Jeremiah, is true in all times and places. No matter your circumstances, no matter whether you have left the place you called home, no matter whether you lost someone or something dear that represented home, your true home is always waiting. So seek God with all your heart. Set your face toward your first love, your true home. You will find him always ready to receive you.
As you pray, ask God to guide you home.
About the Author
Ben Van Arragon is the Minister of Worship and Leadership at Plymouth Heights Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He preaches and teaches the Bible in church, online, and anywhere else he has the opportunity.
