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We Are Exiles

Scott Kercheville
05/03/20 - Sun AM

Psalm 44:11, 13-16 (NLT-SE), “You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations... You let our neighbors mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us. You have made us the butt of their jokes; they shake their heads at us in scorn. We can’t escape the constant humiliation; shame is written across our faces. All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.”

Psalm 120:5–7 (NLT-SE), “How I suffer in far-off Meshech. It pains me to live in distant Kedar.  I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!”

Psalm 137:1–6 (NLT-SE), “Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem. We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees. For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: “Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!” But how can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a pagan land?  If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp. May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.”

1 Peter 1:17 (ESV), “Conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile...” 

1 Peter 2:11 (ESV), “I urge you as Sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”

1. Build Houses and Live in Them (Jer. 29:4-7; 1 Cor. 5:9-10)

Jeremiah 29:4–7 (ESV), “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their 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. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

1 Corinthians 5:9-10 (ESV), “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.”

2. Depart, Touch No Unclean Thing (Isa. 52:11; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1)

Isaiah 52:11 (ESV), “Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 (ESV), “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”