Today’s Thought “Standing or Seated for the Anthem” G. Ward Jeremiah 29 7 Seek the prosperity of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD in its behalf; for in its prosperity will be your prosperity.’ 8 For this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst or your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to their interpretations of your dreams which you dream. While prophets of old wouldn’t be established on popularity, or determine activism on issues of social unrest and oppression from a land and people, their messaging of contingency would often grant hope and whereas a people listened, they would often fail to hear on terms from the sayer. This audience pertinent to the prophet’s demand were captivated by a strange people, in a land not their own. We’re now exposed to a few spokesmen also determining the brevity of life should be perceived for every man/inhabitant of this strange land and being urged to acknowledge governance from the only KING of every parcel in earth and whereas many adjourn to Jeremiah’s message for hope found in vs. 29 (“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”), understanding the message through proper insight, that won’t extract from one’s own determination, may need to know that those inhabitants Jeremiah would admonish, wouldn’t inherit this earthly actuality (*although they would be guided in merciful, heavenly care while there), because its unfolding was 70 years later and whereas our deliverance can be now (even while we’re in exile – Ro.10:9), that land some will inherit won’t need prayer.