Daniel: The Way of Exile

The way of the exile... foreigner, stranger, sojourners, well if you are a follower of Christ you are also someone in exile.

I heard this phrase, "the way of the exile" on one of the Bible Projects videos and I cannot stop thinking of it because I am studying Daniel.

Daniel was part of the people captured in Judah & Jerusalem around 605 BC. The king, queen, officials, eunichs, craftsmen, metal workers had been taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 29:2). 

Because Daniel was royal, without blemish, young, good looking, and wise with the skill of understanding he became a part of the king's court (Daniel 1:4).

Daniel lived his entire life in Babylon. When he was probably 65 to 70 years old Darius became king. Daniel was reading a diplomatic letter from Jeremiah the prophet that was sent when Judah and Jerusalem were captured. This was a common practice according to David Guzik commentary for diplomatic letters to be sent to captives.

While reading Jeremiah's letter, Daniel observed the 70 years that they would remain in Israel, but what caught my attention is that Jeremiah told them how to live their lives while in exile. 

To the exiles in Babylon...

1. Build houses and live in them.

2. Plant gardens and eat from them.

3. Take wives and have sons and daughters.

4. Give daughters in marriage and have grandchildren.

5. DO NOT DECREASE!

6. Seek the welfare of the city. I sent you in exile. (That would be God did this.) 

7. Pray to the LORD in the behalf of the city. In their welfare, you will find your own welfare.

8. Do not listen to false prophets or diviners. Do not listen to their dreams. They lie. I did not send them. 

9. When the 70 years are completed, I will visit you again, fulfill my promise, and bring you back to Jerusalem.

Notice that the way of the exile is not one who fights or causes problems, but lives their life as a blessing. Why is this possible?

This where we get to a famous verse that we love to quote for graduations.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11).

But we must read further...

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile." (Jeremiah 29:12-14).

The way of exile as a child of God has promises that can be held onto. They become the lifeblood of their strength. They enable them to find a way to dig roots where they are planted and live lives that matter. Their hope enables them to bless their captors and the community where they are placed. 

Why is this so important today? Where might you see the importance of holding onto God's promises and blessing in the midst of hardship?

As a follower of Jesus, this world is not our home. We are in exile until Jesus returns. Do you see the foreshadowing of Daniel pointing to Jesus and His followers today? 

It is so important to be in the Word, to be with Jesus, so we are transformed!

Shalom y'all!

Memory Markers

Every night when Greg and I walk we look forward to our neighbor's holiday decorations. Recently as we passed her yard the physical images of her pumpkins and ghosts immediately took me back to my first grade classroom. I immediately saw in my minds eye a memograph page with 5 little pumpkins and cute ghosts drawn on it. I then started singing this song, 

"Five little pumpkins sitting on a fence. 

The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late. 

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "I really don't care."

The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun."

Then woosh went the wind and out went the lights. The five little pumpkins rolled out of sight."

I am blown away how the simple memory image of the shapes brought back this entire song from when I was only 6 years old. I cannot remember my teachers face, name, or even the set up of the classroom. But what I do remember is the song, it was fun to sing, and the shapes are as real as if I coukd draw it today. Also, I know that when we did this song I felt happy and was having fun. I do remember the teacher leaning in and being quite dramatic with the woosh of the wind.

This moment is a profound reminder of why I do what I do. If I can teach a story with joy and find the memory marker for a person, it will help them recall the story years later when all they have is the memory marker for recall. 

I also want to point out the power of emotion. If I can provide a happy or joyful approach as I tell a story then that emotion will be attached to the memory and the recall. This is huge and critical because if all I do is tell the story bound to rules, restrictions, or seriousness the memory recall will not be joyful. How I teach, tell, and share a story will carry an emotional memory marker. We must keep this in mind as we teach. 

Last night as Greg and I watched a RomCom that had a historian, I said, "I think I would like to grow up to be a story teller!" I immediately started laughing as I realized, "I did! I am God's Bible story teller! The most important history lesson we could ever hear! 

Shalom! Shalom y'all!

Are you an innovator?

This recent update shares about what God revealed to me about innovation. 

Here is the link:

Are you an innovator?