Jeremiah 31

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God was sending Judah into exile because of their violation of His Law. He would certainly bring them back into the Promised Land after a time of discipline, but what if the people were restored to the land without any fundamental inner change in their souls that would yield a different life for Israel? What if there would be no communal experience of obedience? If God might still remove them from the land for their violation of His covenant, how long would it be before another exile would be necessary?

The Lord was very patient with His people. Though many lost their lives in the wilderness, the disobedience of the chosen people would continue over many centuries. The question became this: Was there anything better and more stable ahead? If not, then Israel could only expect a continual cycle of restoration, decline, and eventual exile, followed by another restoration, and the story would go on and on.

In Jeremiah 31 we are told about something that was truly different. The earlier promises of the Lord’s goodness were too big and too secure to find their ultimate fulfillment in an unending cycle of decline, exile, and restoration. God loved His people with an everlasting love. The people were pictured in various prophetic texts as having a full and happy obedience that had never been recorded in their history. In the accounts preserved for us in the Scriptures, the northern tribes represented by the name of the one tribe “Ephraim” had not provided any examples of a good spiritual record. How would it ever happen that watchmen from the hill country of Ephraim would be inviting everyone to go to the temple in Jerusalem? “Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.” How would such an unprecedented change of heart come to pass? There would be some who would be “ransomed” and “redeemed” by the Lord. They had once been in a bondage that was too strong for them to escape. “They shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord.”

To be sure, the story of the Jews would not be absent of tears immediately. There would be weeping mothers in Bethlehem who would one day refuse to be comforted when Herod sought to stop the coming of a new kingdom. He tried to kill the new King who was born in that famous village. Though the Kingdom of God would have many powerful enemies, the world of the Messiah would ultimately prevail. The love of the Lord for His son “Ephraim” insisted that a resurrection era would come that would be much better than the distance and disobedience that mar this dying world of sin. It should be very obvious that only God could establish such a wonderful future.

How would such a refreshing way of life begin? “The Lord has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircling a man.” That happens every time a baby boy inhabits the womb of his mother. Yet this would be different. Through the miraculous virginal conception of the Son of God, a grand beginning would ultimately change everything. The Child who would be born would not have the stain of original sin that touched all those who were merely descendants of Adam. Jesus would have the power to bring forth a world that would be free from the endless cycle of futility and death.

The Almighty would surely bless His people. Through the Son of God a great throng of weary souls would be satisfied. There would be a taste of the ultimate victory given to us in a new covenant announced in Jeremiah 31. This groundbreaking arrangement between the Lord and His people would not be like the one that God made through Moses. How so?

First, the stability of the Lord's dealings with His people would not be a matter of their obedience, thus removing from the people of God the continual threat of a just curse upon us for their disobedience. We are told that “they broke” the former way of life under the Law. It was not merely a matter of fatherly discipline when God’s people faced the sanctions of the Mosaic arrangement. They broke the covenant. In this new life, it was not as if complete obedience on their part was immediately promised, but what was announced in Jeremiah 31 was a secure and abiding forgiveness of sins apart from an ongoing sacrificial system. This was because that One Man who would be at the very center of our restoration would be the Sacrifice that would so effectually remove the debt of our sin that no additional charge would remain against us. Christ's obedience and death would secure their good standing with God forever.

Second and most clearly celebrated in Jeremiah 31, this new covenant would be characterized by the creation of a renewed humanity. They would have an increasing knowledge of God, more love for Him, and greater obedience to His Word. The Lord was determined not only to bring many the legal standing of being counted as righteous in Christ. We would actually be granted the hearts and lives of renewed human beings.

This plan for a new covenant is so full and so secure, that the Lord's people must admit that we have not yet experienced all of its treasures ourselves. We should believe this Word delivered by Jeremiah. Our faith is aided by the fact that so much of what Jeremiah has announced has already been accomplished in the coming of the Messiah and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Come soon Lord Jesus! Bring the fullness of grace to Your people, that we might serve you with eternal praise as true citizens of the eternal Zion.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Sovereign Lord, Your plan shall surely be accomplished. Your church shall be perfectly adorned with the righteousness of Christ. You bring forth shouts of joy from the voices of Your people. You will bring us to the place of Your presence. You will gather Your flock and give to Your people a New Covenant. Built on the Rock, which is Christ, Your church will be blessed according to Your promise. Restore us again, O God. Let us not be put to shame. We will return to You from the land of unbelief. We will follow our great Redeemer. The answer for us has come in the child of a woman. He watches over us for our good. Build and plant, O Lord, for Your ways are marvelous. We have broken Your Law, but Your Son has obeyed every commandment. We look with joyful expectation to the coming day when we shall no longer disobey Your commandments. Your love for us is both strong and sure. Your Kingdom will be built up, and Your Son shall reign forever.

Jeremiah 30

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One of the greatest mysteries of the Old Testament involved the reconciliation of the justice and the mercy of the Almighty. God would certainly send forth the fury of His wrath upon the wicked. How then could He forgive His people and restore their fortunes, since they deserved His punishment? Jeremiah 30 ends with this answer: “In the latter days you will understand this.”

Before the appearing of the Son of God and His death on the cross, it was very difficult to comprehend what the solution to this dilemma might be. But now we live in those “latter days,” for the Son of God has come, and the Spirit of God has been poured out upon the church. In the shining light of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, we can honestly say that we do “understand this,” and it is very good news.

God instructed Jeremiah to write down His divine message for our benefit. In this book of prophecies, Jeremiah was to record for posterity all that God had spoken to him. This included an announcement of a great future time of blessed living for people that were about to go off into captivity, people who would hear of the destruction of their city and the defilement of everything that they considered holy. Before the siege of Jerusalem had even taken place, Jeremiah was recording the message of a bountiful restoration after a limited time of divine discipline.

How bad would the trouble be for Judah? Men would be in such pain of soul over the destruction all around them that they would be compared with women in labor. It would be a day of great distress.

When a woman is in labor, eventually the baby is delivered. In due time the mother may forget the pain she experienced because of the overwhelming pleasure of the gift of a new child. Would there be any happiness for God’s people that could more than compensate for their horrible losses?

Yes, a day would come when the yoke of foreign powers over the Lord’s people would be broken. They would serve the Lord God, and “David” their king. Imagine the satisfaction of being gathered from the nations to which they were once scattered! When Judah's time of correction was completed, God would eventually bring the other nations to an end that He had used as agents of discipline against Judah.

Are we supposed to assume that God’s kindness to His people was on account of their moral superiority over their oppressors? No, it was clear that God’s own people had a wound that was incurable. Nonetheless the Lord would heal them.

This recovery would not be a meager restoration. Even the return of the people from Babylon was not enough of a blessing to be the complete fulfillment of all the great things that God promised through Jeremiah. Yes, the temple would be rebuilt and even the palace of the king would again be seen. More than that, Jerusalem would be filled with celebration. There would be great fruitfulness and growth. The people would be a congregation of worshipers. They would have a ruler from their midst who would draw near to God. Best of all, this communion with the Almighty would not only be for the king, but for all His subjects, for the Lord promised that they would be His people, and He would be their God.

Despite these wonderful pronouncements, the storm of God’s wrath would go forth and burst upon the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord would not turn back until His righteous anger was expressed. Knowing that we might be confused about this, God reassured us that one day we would understand.

That day has now come. The Lord has provided a Lamb to stand in our place. The perfect sacrifice was offered when Jesus took the fullness of His Father’s wrath for us, so that we who are recipients of His kind mercy could receive a joy so abundant that the celebration would begin even now. God has healed what could not be mended by mankind. He did this through the miracle of the gift of His Son. Through Him and through Him alone, God is able to be both just (punishing sin) and the Justifier of him who has faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:26) It is only through the cross of Christ that the mystery of the Old Testament is solved. The day of understanding has come for the people of God. Even now we are enabled to enter into the joy of our Father’s heaven through hope in the sure promise of the Lord.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

O Lord, God of Israel, when will You restore the fortunes of Your church? We live in fear and distress, yet You will save us out of every trouble. If we are far away, You will draw us back. If we are near in body, but far away in spirit, You are able to bring us home. If we face the strongest enemies, You will still restore us by Your compassion. There is no enemy who can destroy us. We thank You for the Ruler of the Church, for He is our strength. He will accomplish all the intentions of His heart.

Jeremiah 29

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In Jeremiah 29 the prophet wrote to the people of God who were captives in exile. Though many Jews had already been taken to Babylon, the final siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple had not yet occurred. God used Jeremiah's message to bring a sure word of hope and warning to many of His children who were already far from home.

God's directions to the exiles: Build dwelling places in the land of your captivity and live in them. Plant gardens and enjoy the fruit of your labors. Marry and give in marriage. Have children. In summary: Settle in. You are going to be here a while.

God told His people that they should seek the peace and prosperity of the place where they were currently living. Many of the elders there would presumably die in the land of their captivity, but their descendants would return and begin a new life in the land from which their fathers and grandfathers were cast out.

It would be seventy years before that return would take place. People who believe that they will live in a foreign land for seventy years live very differently than those who believe that they will come home in two years.

God had plans for His exiled people. These determinations were sure, but they would not be entirely fulfilled within the lifetime of those to whom He wrote. The Almighty spoke of His vision for His chosen ones as “a future and a hope” that would come to pass according to a multi-generational promise.

The God of the Jews was with His people in Babylon, but one day He would be with their descendants again in Jerusalem in a new temple. His presence would again be known in that holy place. This was the word of good news for them, but there was also a necessary note of warning. There were false prophets that were spreading lies in God’s name, giving unreliable messages to His people and distracting them from their present duties. Such misleading prophets had to be ignored.

One other important component of Jeremiah's letter was the account of life back in the land of Judah. Should the exiles envy the people that were not taken away as captives? God assured His people in Babylon that it was far better for them to be in exile at this time, since the people who remained in the land of Judah faced grave danger, trouble, and death.

Finally, the letter addressed particular lying prophets and other specific individuals who had spoken falsely concerning Jeremiah. They would have no part in the better days that God had announced to His suffering people.

Centuries after the days of Jeremiah, Jesus talked to His disciples about the future. He promised certain events that would take place in their lifetimes. He also spoke of other prophetic details that were for another day beyond the mortal lives of those who first heard His words. Shortly after giving that revelation, He himself was abandoned by His friends and was put on display as a criminal. Yet He knew that He had “a future and a hope.”

Today we may feel very far from God. Our citizenship is in heaven and we live on earth. We need to seek the peace and prosperity of the place where we are. We can enjoy the gifts that God gives us here, and plan for our future together with confidence. Our title to a far greater land is secure through the blood of Immanuel. Like our Redeemer, we must keep on going with our good mission, even when it may seem to ourselves and to others that all is lost.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Father God, there is so much that we cannot comprehend. There is much trouble all around us. Who can understand the glory of Your plan? You have sent us into a particular place, and we are to seek the welfare of the place where we live. There will be an end to every act of divine discipline. Your plans for us are good. We will seek You and we will find You, for You have sought us first and have found us. Have mercy on us, O God. We have not paid attention to Your Word as we ought to. Help us to distinguish lies from the truth. Grant this discernment not only to the elders of Your church, but to all who have the joy of hearing Your Word. False shepherds would lead the sheep away, but we will do what You have commanded. Help us to reject all lies, despite the strange appeal of the false claims of men.

Jeremiah 28

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How valuable is good news from a false prophet? Jeremiah 28 presents us with an intense conflict between Jeremiah and a man by the name of Hananiah. Hananiah was very bold to speak good news from the Lord, but the words that he spoke were a direct contradiction of God’s revelation through His true prophet. Jeremiah had indicated that there would be no quick release from the danger of the Babylonians. Hananiah said that all the people and property that were already in captivity would be returned to Judah within two years. They could not both be right.

Jeremiah wanted to hear good news, just as all the people of Judah wanted deliverance from God, the return of their families and friends, and a restoration of the sacred vessels from the temple that had been removed by the Babylonians. He was quick to add his “Amen” to the prophecy of Hananiah. “May the Lord do so!” But would the Lord do so?

Jeremiah indicated that the prophecy of Hananiah was inconsistent with the existing revelations of God from prior prophets. These earlier men had spoken of war, famine, and sickness, just as Jeremiah had also prophesied. Hananiah spoke of peace in their day and prosperity for the people of Judah. His word did not find a witness among the revered messengers of earlier days. If there was no peace within two years, then Hananiah was a false prophet who must be resisted.

Hananiah did not appreciate these words of challenge. Remember that Jeremiah was wearing a wooden yoke as a visual parable to the people regarding God's chosen pathway of submission for them in surrender to the Babylonians. Hananiah responded to Jeremiah's object lesson by removing this wooden yoke from his neck and breaking that yoke, claiming in this prophetic action that God would break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar within two years.

Jeremiah simply went away at the time that this happened, but he later confronted Hananiah concerning his brash presumption and his false words. It was easy enough to break a yoke of wood, but could the false prophet remove “an iron yoke?” What if God Himself had determined that Judah's exile would not be quickly ended?

Finally Jeremiah had a message for Hananiah himself. He gave a new prophecy with a very short time horizon. Within one year Hananiah would die. Why? He had uttered rebellion against the Lord. Seven months later, Hananiah was dead.

When Jesus Christ came, He taught as one who had authority. He spoke of things from the past and of His present day. He was also bold to speak of the future. Some of His prophecies were of things that were far off from the time of His speaking, but some were very near. He told His disciples three times that He was going to meet His death soon in Jerusalem. He spoke of what would happen prior to His death, about how He would die, and most interestingly, He made what must have seemed like a wild prediction—that He would rise from the dead within a very short period of time.

It would have been very evident within just a few months or years if Jesus had been a false prophet. But our Redeemer did face mocking and scourging. Jesus was crucified. Especially important, the Messiah did rise from the dead. By the power of His resurrection He testified to the success of His saving work for us. Christ has now been perfectly vindicated as the greatest of all prophets. Why should we ever doubt His Word?

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Lord God, You spoke to Your children through prophets, yet not every man who claimed to speak for You was true. In Old Testament days there were many false prophets, as there are even to this day. Many seem to speak only what people wish to hear. The Word that You have for us is wonderful. Why would we ever reject Your blessings and insist on answers that are not good? Your plan of eternal salvation is far better than the instant gifts that we would demand from You or the man-centered answers to our questions that we would invent. Give us patient ears and submissive hearts. Stay near us, O Lord.

Jeremiah 27

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In the days of Jeremiah, the people of Judah were told that they needed to submit to the yoke of Babylon. The Lord also sent the word of His prophet to other neighboring nations. God's immediate instruction for the neighbors of Judah was that they too should give up the fight against Nebuchadnezzar. It would not go well with them if they attempted to defeat the Babylonians. They would be resisting not only powerful armies, but also the God of Israel. They should choose peace and prosperity, rather than the warfare, disease, and famine that would come from the Lord if they continued to fight.

This same warning was also given to Zedekiah, the king of Judah. As with the other nations, the king was told that he should not listen to political and spiritual advisers telling him lies about the future. God had not sent these false prophets. If the king listened to them, he would only bring further trouble upon the remaining people of Jerusalem and Judea.

Judah's difficulties were not yet over. Much wealth, many gifted people, and large numbers of sacred objects had already been taken away. Nevertheless, not only would this wealth stay in enemy hands for a longer time, but in fact much that remained in the land (the pillars, the bronze sea, and more) would eventually be brought beyond the borders of Israel.

The last verse of the chapter set forth a note of hope. Though more trouble would come to God's people before things got better, God indicated that He would visit His people in the land of their captivity. In that day He would bring some of them back home.

Jeremiah told the unhappy truth of the current Babylonian supremacy to the nations all around Judah and to leaders within Judah. He was chosen for the task of bringing an honest word from God to the people. When our Redeemer came to rescue us from sin and darkness, He also faced the opposition of many powerful people. He was similarly committed to bringing the full word of truth at all costs.

Those in authority who took their stand against Jesus understood that He was making an indictment in the Name of the God of Israel. It was very plain that He had a different view of the Law of Moses than they had been taught, and so they rejected His interpretation of the sacred writings. Christ was forthright in His condemnation of the traditions that they honored above the Word of God. He spoke unmistakable oracles of judgment and more mysterious parable speech in order to communicate the message of the Almighty. The New Testament assures us that the Pharisees knew that Jesus was speaking against them. They therefore conspired with a betrayer in order to destroy Him and His movement.

The defeat of the kingdom of God would prove to be an impossible goal. In plotting for the Messiah's death, the enemies of Jesus were only fulfilling the plan of God. By His cross, Jesus lifted an unbearable burden from our backs. Now we eagerly receive our Redeemer and gladly hear His gentle words of gospel instruction. We believe that the Lord of Hosts will accomplish the entirety of all His marvelous plan for our salvation. There can be no doubt that our only safety comes in our complete surrender to the Lord. It would be foolish for us to resist His good plan of grace.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Lord Almighty, You have called us to bear the yoke of Christ. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Our fathers could not bear the yoke of the Law. You have brought us a Word of grace, and have filled us with Your Spirit. In Your providence You may bring us under the yoke of powerful men and nations for a time, but this is for our good. Help us to trust You today. The words of false prophets are lies. They sound smooth and appealing. They promise us an easy and speedy victory, but they do not speak the truth. Can we trust You in the suffering that is our portion this day? Be with us now, for Your Son suffered and died for us.

Jeremiah 26

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At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the Lord sent the prophet Jeremiah to the court of the temple. The people needed to repent and to turn back to the Lord. If they did not, then God would remove that place of worship and make it an example of His discipline of His own people. He promised to make the city of Jerusalem “a curse” unless they turned from their evil ways.

The priests and the prophets who heard this message were appalled. Their response was simple: “You shall die.” The officials of Judah took their place at the gate. They came from the King’s house and sat in judgment on this matter. Jeremiah repeated his message in their hearing. If they would mend their ways and deeds and obey the word of the Lord, then God would relent.

Jeremiah said all that he was commanded to say. He was not trying to save his own life, but to save their lives. He was willing to die, and even offered himself to them to do what they saw fit with him. Yet he also warned them that if they killed him they would be putting an innocent man to death who was merely speaking the words that God had commanded him to speak.

The officials from the king surprisingly pointed out that Jeremiah had not done anything deserving death. They cited an incident from the days of King Hezekiah to save Jeremiah's life. In those earlier days the prophet Micah had spoken a similar message of judgment against Jerusalem. Did Hezekiah put Micah to death? No, he humbled himself before God and Jerusalem was saved from destruction.

Nonetheless, in the case of Uriah, another prophet who had given a similar message in the time of Jeremiah, the king had presided over Uriah's execution. It appeared that this might also be Jeremiah’s fate. Yet God chose to preserve his life at this time, though the people would not repent.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to His people and spoke words of judgment. Surely everyone should have obeyed the Son of God. The leading officials and the priests stood against God's messenger and plotted His destruction. Yet Jesus willingly went to the cross to perform the work that He came to do. All was accomplished in accord with the will of God for our salvation.

The life and death of Jesus Christ has been a message that has been proclaimed in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. His “good news” to the world is full of grace and truth. Though His story is opposed by many, for those who would receive Him, God has given them the right to be called sons of God. His Word is a trumpet of hope that must be clearly sounded in every age.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Father, Your church has been given a most important task. We are to speak forth Your Word. Yet there are many who do not approve of the message that we bring, and we are tempted to turn back from the truth and to either speak the lies that people want to hear or to speak no word at all. Help us Lord, for there is an enemy against us. Disaster seems very near. Protect us from those who do not love You. Give us energy for each day, lest we sleep and do nothing.

Jeremiah 25

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For many years the prophet Jeremiah had been warning Judah about the devastation from the north that would be coming against them. Yet the people would not listen to him because they would not listen to the Lord. They demonstrated their foolish rebellion against God by worshiping idols.

God had armies to the north that He could use as He saw fit. Nebuchadnezzar was His servant though the far-off king might never acknowledge Him. Jerusalem and Judah would fall to the Babylonians.

There were many chapters that we could point to throughout the prophetic writings that speak of the interruption of life’s blessings because of the Lord’s judgment. This passage is different because of one specific detail—70 years. God revealed to Jeremiah the length of the Babylonian captivity. The prophet Daniel would later use this one fact as a certain promise from the Almighty. He would turn his face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and voicing heartfelt pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

The provision of this fact of divine timing was an unusual condescension on the part of God. Jesus told His disciples that no one knows the day or hour of the return of the Son of Man. God was under no obligation to tell the exiles how long they would be away from the land. Daniel, a man of faith serving in the land of the Chaldeans, would consider the sure word of the Lord through Jeremiah and would pray accordingly. This detail of the length of captivity could also have functioned as an encouragement to people of faith that their exile was not permanent, since the actual duration of it had been determined and announced before it even began.

God also revealed through His prophet that He would punish the one who was the agent of their chastisement. Nebuchadnezzar was His servant for a time, but the Babylonians would be punished by God after the seventy years of exile were completed. For those who believed, they could take heart that the iniquity of their oppressors would not be ignored by God forever.

The Lord has a cup of wrath that no man can stand. It is measured out against His people, but it will also be given to the nations of the world. It is this cup that Jesus has consumed on behalf of His beloved bride. The cross is the justice of the Almighty, and for those who believe, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. We do not know the day of the Lord’s return, but we do know that the judgment that we deserve has been paid for by our Messiah. Now we wait for Him, believing His promises and doing the works that He has appointed for us. Though we may face serious disappointments, we have the joy of anticipation that comes to the one who faithfully serves at the pleasure of our great Redeemer and King.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Lord God Almighty, You are able to deliver us from situations that seem hopeless. You have spoken to us consistently through the Scriptures, showing us the way to go. We have not listened to You. We have not obeyed You. Please forgive us and help us. Take us through days of discipline. Hold us and keep us. Bring us beyond the time of desolation. We long for the life that can only come from You. We long for the resurrection of the dead. Bring us a taste of life even now when we face great difficulty and even disaster. Help us to have faith that You are bringing about a very good plan. Though You roar against Your church, yet we know that You love us and will save us. We remember the cross, by which Christ has taken away the horrible wrath that was coming against us. He has faced Your fierce anger for us, and we have a secure and full hope in Him.