10 Things You Should Know About the Exile

This text is a part of the 10 Things You Should Know collection.

1. Israel’s exile is the main theological disaster of the Outdated Testomony.

Israel’s exile to Assyria and Babylon occurred over a collection of occasions from 722 BC to 582 BC. You may examine them in 2 Kings 17 and a pair of Kings 24. And though pressured deportation is terrible sufficient in its personal proper, these waves of exile have been coupled with two different deeply vital occasions: the toppling of David’s dynasty and the destruction of Solomon’s temple. In 2 Samuel 7 we learn of how God had given his folks “relaxation” within the land, and in flip promised to David that he would have a kingdom without end and a son to construct God’s temple. Subsequently, Solomon is that first royal inheritor, and he builds God’s temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 1‒10). Thus marks the top of God’s saving functions to this point: God’s folks in God’s place below God’s king and worshipping in God’s sanctuary. All of that’s an affirmation that the Lord God is really for his folks, and together with his folks, and saving his folks. What then is the exile however a stripping away of all of that? Due to the sins of their kings (1 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 21:9), the individuals are pushed out of the land, disadvantaged of a king, and made to look at their temple crumble—all of which begs the horrible query as as to if God has deserted his folks and/or been defeated by the Assyrian and Babylonian gods. The OT “exile,” subsequently, is a set of disasters that create an unthinkable theological quandary. It should be resolved!

2. The Bible’s theology of exile lengthy predates Israel’s historic exile.

But, the OT’s theology of exile doesn’t begin in 2 Kings. Reasonably, Israel’s exile is a microcosm of a a lot bigger exile. In Genesis 3:24, Adam and Eve are ejected “east of the backyard of Eden” due to their sin (Gen. 2:17; 3:6). Israel’s expertise of exile, subsequently, is consultant of all humanity’s exile from our authentic residence in God’s wonderful presence. For this reason Israel’s exile issues to everybody, even when we’re not Israelites. For it is just by Israel’s return from exile that we can also return to the true presence of God. We additionally study from Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden that there’s a essential theological hyperlink between exile and loss of life. They’re informed that they may die the day they eat of the tree of the data of excellent and evil (Gen. 2:17). However on the day they eat of that tree, they don’t die—strictly talking. However they’re expelled from the backyard, and later they do die (Gen. 3:23–24; 5:5). We are able to conclude, subsequently, that exile is a type of loss of life, and loss of life is a situation of being in exile. And such is the state of the world below “the curse” of sin (Gen. 3:17).

3. Return from exile motifs are everywhere in the Outdated Testomony.

The theology of exile and return is subsequently baked into the whole OT. The calling of Abraham demonstrates this in Genesis 11‒12. As he strikes westward from Ur to “the land,” he’s symbolically coming again to the presence of God. In flip, the language of Eden is used all through Exodus by Joshua to explain the land promised to Israel (see esp. Ex. 3:8; Lev. 26:11‒12). Thus, Joshua’s entrance into the land is symbolic of a return to the backyard of Eden (see esp. Josh. 1:13; 21:43‒45). Equally, insofar because the tabernacle is supposed to seem like and commemorate the backyard of Eden (Ex. 24‒25), the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 comprise a liturgical return from exile—the excessive priest bearing Israel, and by extension all humanity, again into the presence of God. The purpose of all that is that Israel’s calling, escape from Egypt, entrance into the land, and worship practices all keep in mind Adam and Eve’s exile from Eden and create the hope for all humanity’s return to the presence of God sometime.

4. Return from exile is commonly related to resurrection.

All through the OT these symbolic returns from exile are sometimes accompanied with resurrection symbolism. Two examples should suffice. When Israel escapes from Egypt, it’s mentioned that they “go up” or “exit” (Ex. 3:8, 12, 17; 6:6, 11, and so forth.), which is similar language used of “going up/out” of the grave in different OT texts (cf. Gen. 46:4; Ps. 18:15‒16; Jonah 2:2, 6). Thus, Israel is metaphorically resurrected of their exodus! Additionally, when the prophets converse of Israel popping out of their Babylonian exile, they describe it as a resurrection of the nation (see Isa. 25 and Ezek. 37). In each of those circumstances, an atoning sacrifice is important to precipitate the return and resurrection (Ex. 12; Isa. 53).

5. Jeremiah says the exile will final 70 years, however Daniel says it is going to final 70 x 7 years.

Essentially the most well-known prediction of the period of Israel’s exile is available in Jeremiah 29:10, “When seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I’ll go to you, and I’ll fulfill to you my promise and convey you again to this place.” I say that is well-known not as a result of we all know it very nicely, however as a result of different biblical authors typically consult with it. See 2 Chronicles 36:21, Ezra 1:1, and Daniel 9:2. However it’s hanging that upon seeing that these 70 years are ended, Daniel prays that the Lord will return his folks to the land (Dan. 9:3‒19). However then the angel Gabriel seems to Daniel and says, “Seventy weeks [or “Seventy sevens”] are decreed about your folks and your holy metropolis . . . . ” That signifies that whereas the exile will finish in a single sense (Ezra does lead many residence), it’s ordained by the Lord truly to increase the situations of the exile to seventy occasions seven years! I don’t suppose that quantity is supposed to pinpoint a exact date, however to talk of a lengthening of the exile (and all it meant below #1 above) to an extra horizon whereas all nonetheless below God’s sovereign timing.

6. With Jesus’s beginning, teachings, and miracles the return from exile has begun.

The NT, subsequently, opens with this ongoing exile emphasis (cf. Matt. 1:11‒12; 2:15, 18). However Jesus’s ministry is the dawning of the end-of-exile mild (evaluate Matt. 4:12–17 with Isa. 9:1–2)! He heals illnesses and raises the lifeless (evaluate Matt. 11:2‒6 with Isa. 35:1‒7). He provides “relaxation” from a heavy “yoke” (evaluate Matt. 11:28‒30 with Isa. 9:4 and Jer. 6:16). And he feeds his folks on the mountains of Israel (evaluate Matt. 14:13‒21 with Ezek. 34:11‒14). All of those teachings and actions are clear prophetic indicators that the exile is about to really finish by Christ.

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7. Jesus’s loss of life and resurrection collectively are the climactic return-from-exile occasions.

I commented above that “exile is a type of loss of life” and that “loss of life is a situation of exile.” Conversely, all through the OT the return from exile is described as a sort of resurrection. With that form of background in place, Jesus’s loss of life and resurrection can simply be seen as his personal private exile and return. Solely his return to the presence of God will not be like a resurrection, however a real historic bodily resurrection. Thus, all these pictures of return and resurrection within the OT have been at all times pointing to Christ’s climactic work. Two NT texts assist us perceive this. Within the context of describing the that means of Christ’s loss of life, Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the regulation by changing into a curse for us.” As we noticed above, the OT “curse” is that of exile. Then in Hebrews, we learn the way Jesus has now gone into the true sanctuary of God (Heb. 8:1‒5). Thus, in Jesus’s loss of life he has develop into the Christian’s substitutionary sufferer of exile as he pays the consequence of loss of life on behalf of his folks for his or her sins. And within the resurrection and ascension, he representatively entered into the true sanctuary of God on behalf of his folks. As a result of sin results in exile and loss of life, Jesus has endured the exile and loss of life due his folks on their behalf. And since return from exile means resurrection into the presence of God, Jesus has been raised to minister within the heavenly sanctuary on behalf of his folks.

8. Jesus’s ascension, the present of the Spirit, and the creation of the church are return-from-exile results in the present day.

However the story of return from exile doesn’t finish there. The world continues to really feel the consequences of Jesus’s return-from-exile mission as his individuals are born once more, evangelize others, and persevere of their religion. Paul tells us that we expertise Jesus’s resurrection energy once we put our religion in Jesus. Romans 6:4 says, “[J]ust as Christ was raised from the lifeless by the glory of the Father, we too would possibly stroll in newness of life” (see additionally Gal. 2: 20). And Peter too says that God “has induced us to be born once more to a dwelling hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the lifeless” (1 Peter 1:3). Thus, Jesus’s private return-from-exile resurrection energy is prolonged to his folks. We are able to say, subsequently, that Christians take part on Jesus’s return-from-exile expertise by our union with him (see additionally Eph. 1:20; 2:5‒6; Col. 3:1‒3). Associated, at any time when we evangelize unbelievers, we’re extending Jesus’s come-out-of-exile summons to the world (evaluate my feedback in #6 above on Matt. 4:12‒17 with Matt. 28:18‒20). On this means, the remainder of the world additionally experiences Jesus’s end-of-exile ministry. And eventually, Romans 8 and Hebrews 3‒4 use a variety of the language of the exodus to explain how Christians persevere of their stroll. Insofar as Israel’s exodus and eventual entrance into the land are additionally return-from-exile motifs (see #3 above), then so too are the struggles of the Christian life. Our head—the Lord Jesus Christ—has gone earlier than us into the wonderful presence of God, and in that sense, we are able to say we too have returned from exile. However it is usually true that experientially, on this life, we are coming back from exile. And to God’s nice reward and our consolation, he’s with us in our return-from-exile trek by this life.

9. The Bible’s theology of exile and return is just lastly resolved within the final chapters of Revelation.

Our full and last return from exile will solely be full when Jesus returns and resurrects our our bodies (1 Thess. 4:13‒16). Then we’ll enter into the brand new heavens and the brand new earth, a cosmic Edenic homecoming (Rev. 21‒22)! This stunning passage in Revelation 21:1‒4 says all of it:

Then I noticed a brand new heaven and a brand new earth, for the primary heaven and the primary earth had handed away, and the ocean was no extra. And I noticed the holy metropolis, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He’ll dwell with them, and they are going to be his folks, and God himself will likely be with them as their God. He’ll wipe away each tear from their eyes, and loss of life shall be no extra, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor ache anymore, for the previous issues have handed away.”

Into this new actuality, “the kings of the earth will deliver their glory” (Rev. 21:24). And so the Bible’s lengthy exile-and-return drama ends as Christ’s folks enter into a geographic location the place we’ll dwell with God without end. All as a result of Christ has “died, and behold [is] alive forevermore” (Rev. 1:18)!

10. A biblical theology of exile is deeply related for forming the Christian life.

This biblical theology of exile and return is significant for Christians to know. For one, it helps us learn our Bibles higher, and that’s at all times good. Discover all of the bits of the biblical narrative that I referenced all through #1‒9 above: Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, exodus, Sinai, tabernacle, land, David, temple, Solomon, the prophets, Jesus’s beginning and educating and miracles, Jesus’s loss of life and resurrection, regeneration, evangelism, perseverance, and our future hope. The Bible’s drama of exile and return helps us set up and make sense of all that collectively. Secondly, this biblical understanding of exile and return offers us a theology of historical past. And that is essential too. It tells us the place we’re in God’s world and once we are in God’s plans. We’re one step out of exile and one step again into Eden! Christ is our “positive and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inside place backstage, the place Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” (Heb. 6:19–20; cf. additionally Heb. 10:20)—and really quickly, we’re destined to observe him there! In a world profoundly confused about who they’re, what is sweet, what’s true, what is gorgeous, and what’s the that means of life, this theology of homecoming is superbly refreshing, inspiring, motivating, hope-giving, grounding, and figuring out. Buddy, should you’re nonetheless studying this, rejoice with me within the return-from-exile salvation Christ has introduced, and open up your mouth to name others out of exile with you!

Nicholas G. Piotrowski is the creator of Return from Exile and the Renewal of God’s People.

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