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Jeremiah 30-33
New Covenant
Coming!
Psalm 88:1-18 Prayer in the Depths of Depression
1.“Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.2.Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.3.For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.4.I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,5.set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.6.You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.7.Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah.8.You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.9.My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. I have spread out my hands to you.10.Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Selah.11.Is your hesed/loyal love declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?12.Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?13.But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.14.Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?15.I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am perplexed.16.Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.17.They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.18.You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.“
Observations
88:1-9.Being one of the world's wisest men doesn't spare you from sin, discipline and depression. 1Kings 4:31 compares Solomon's wisdom to Heman's. But the God of his salvation isn't answering Heman's prayers. As a result, he's helpless, as good as dead, and his soul is full of troubles. Worse still, he's apparently sinned and God is actively afflicting him with wrath. He has no friends anymore. He's stuck in the darkest pit; there's no escape. Ever have one of those days? Heman's having one of those years, a really bad year (or so it seems).
88:10-12.
Rather than give into his depression and die, he gives God reasons to help him. Taking his focus off the problems and praying according to God's purposes gives him hope (but not much). The dead don't praise God nor declare to others His loyalty and faithfulness, nor make known His wonders and righteousness. So the implication is, save me God, so I can do those things (hint, hint).
88:13-18.
Unfortunately this isn't one of those happily-ever-after psalms that end well. There still is no deliverance, but Heman preserves, pouring out his complaint again (just in case God missed it) and affirming his faithfulness in calling out to God. Recognizing the hand the God of his salvation (88:1) in afflicting him, is actually a basis for hope. God's discipline doesn't last forever, and the fact that he is still alive and praying is a good thing. It's just a matter of time before God relents.
Application
It's best to strive to avoid God's discipline by paying attention to what He wants and giving it to him, but when being disciplined, don't stop praying, because your God doesn't stop being the God of your salvation.
Prayer
You are the God of my salvation; I have no one else to turn to, so I will continue to ask You to save me, and spare me, so I can praise You, as You desire. Amen.
Proverbs 21:11-13 Wise Ways
11.“When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.12.The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.13.Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.“Observations
21:11.The simple/naive person needs to see a simple Pavlovian (specific cause and effect) example to learn, they don't grasp concepts well. The wise person learns from instruction, generalizing the example to the universal principle. Based upon the parallelism, one could argue that the mocker (one who doesn't fear God) is the same person as the simple, who suffers the consequences of his actions.
21:12-13.
Translators are divided over whether the righteous one is God, or a leader type who seeks to destroy the wicked. In either event, the house/prosperity of the wicked is not to be envied, because it is transient. But God builds the house of those who consider the poor (Isa 58:6-9), and conversely, justly ignores those who ignore others in need.
Application
The wise person treats others like he/she would want to be treated by God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, show me how to use the life You've entrusted to me for Your purposes, and not selfishly waste it on my lusts. Amen.
Jeremiah 30-33 New Covenant Coming!
These chapters offer hope to the nation of their restoration and rest in the promised land, after their discipline is accomplished. God gives the details of the New Covenant in chapter 31, and His plans to regather and bless Israel. Jeremiah continues to suffer abuse, buys some land, and God invites him to call upon the God for whom nothing is too difficult.
Jeremiah 30 Time of Jacob's Trouble
1.The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,2.Thus speaks Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.3.For, behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will turn again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, says Yahweh; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.4.These are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.5.For thus says Yahweh: we have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.7.Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.8.It shall come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondservant;9.but they shall serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.10.Therefore don’t you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh; neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.11.For I am with you, says Yahweh, to save you: for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.12.For thus says Yahweh, your hurt is incurable, and your wound grievous.13.There is none to plead your cause, that you may be bound up: you have no healing medicines.14.All your lovers have forgotten you; they don’t seek you: for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased.15.Why do you cry for your hurt? Your pain is incurable: for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you.16.Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, everyone of them, shall go into captivity; and those who despoil you shall be a spoil, and all who prey on you will I give for a prey.17.For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh; because they have called you an outcast, saying, It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.18.Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places; and the city shall be built on its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited in its own way.19.Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.20.Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all who oppress them.21.Their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from their midst; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach to me: for who is he who has had boldness to approach to me? says Yahweh.22.You shall be my people, and I will be your God.23.Behold, the storm of Yahweh, his wrath, has gone forth, a sweeping storm: it shall burst on the head of the wicked.24.The fierce anger of Yahweh will not return, until he has executed, and until he has performed the intentions of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.Observations
30:1-17.God promises salvation from their punitive captivity, and healing to the nation of Israel, regathering them in the promised land under the Davidic King (Messiah), and punishing those who harmed them. He makes it clear that His discipline has been graciously limited and measured, in a disproportionate response to their great sins. The nations will not experience His leniency. He mentions a future unprecented “Time of Jacob's Trouble” which apparently will be even more severe than the captivity, from which He will also deliver them. Some consider this to be the future Tribulation. Note that as a result of it, Israel will be free, never again under a foreign yoke, and they would serve Yahweh and the future Davidic King. This has to be yet future, since the Roman rule of Israel, and dispersion since AD 70, would invalidate any previous time frames.
30:18-24.
God reiterates His promises of return and restoration, but adds that their ruler will not be some foreign prince but a native, who would have an intimate relationship with Yahweh, and moral boldness to come into His presence. (There is no post-captivity prince who meets this criteria, yet). They wouldn't understand this until the latter days, which are also future. God's wrath would not rest until it accomplishes His purposes, a purified Israel as the preeminent nation, and the Messiah presiding over a world-wide peace.
Application
Since God will always win, it's wise not to fight with Him, but give Him what He wants, and enjoy His favor rather than discipline.
Prayer
God, I know that in Your justice You punish sin and seek to purify Your people; may I live so as to have boldness in Your presence, by doing what You desire. Amen.
Jeremiah 31 New Covenant with Israel
1.At that time, says Yahweh, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.2.Thus says Yahweh, The people who were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.3.Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with hesed/loyal covenantal love have I drawn you.4.Again will I build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel: again you shall be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry.5.Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy its fruit.6.For there shall be a day, that the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim shall cry, Arise, and let us go up to Zion to Yahweh our God.7.For thus says Yahweh, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout for the chief of the nations: publish, praise, and say, Yahweh, save your people, the remnant of Israel.8.Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, along with the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travails with child together: a great company shall they return here.9.They shall come with weeping; and with petitions will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.10.Hear the word of Yahweh, you nations, and declare it in the islands afar off; and say, he who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as shepherd does his flock.11.For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.12.They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow to the goodness of Yahweh, to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.13.Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.14.I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says Yahweh.15.Thus says Yahweh: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.16.Thus says Yahweh: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says Yahweh; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.17.There is hope for your latter end, says Yahweh; and your children shall come again to their own border.18.I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, you have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf: bring me back, and I shall repent; for you are Yahweh my God.19.Surely after that I was returned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I struck on my thigh: I was ashamed, yes, even confounded, because I bore the reproach of my youth.20.Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says Yahweh.21.Set up road signs, make guideposts; set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went: turn again, virgin of Israel, turn again to these your cities.22.How long will you go here and there, you backsliding daughter? for Yahweh has created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall shelter a man.23.Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I shall bring again their captivity: Yahweh bless you, habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness.24.Judah and all its cities shall dwell therein together, the farmers, and those who go about with flocks.25.For I have satiated the weary soul, and every sorrowful soul have I replenished.26.On this I awakened, and saw; and my sleep was sweet to me.27.Behold, the days are coming, says Yahweh, that I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of man, and with the offspring of animal.28.It shall happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build and to plant, says Yahweh.29.In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.30.But everyone shall die for his own iniquity: every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.31.Behold, the days are coming, says Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:32.not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Yahweh.33.But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yahweh: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:34.and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahweh; for they shall all know me, from their least to their greatest, says Yahweh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.35.Thus says Yahweh, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar; Yahweh of Hosts is his name:36.If these ordinances depart from before me, says Yahweh, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.37.Thus says Yahweh: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says Yahweh.38.Behold, the days are coming, says Yahweh, that the city shall be built to Yahweh from the tower of Hananel to the gate of the corner.39.The measuring line shall go out further straight onward to the hill Gareb, and shall turn about to Goah.40.The whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy to Yahweh; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more forever.Observations
31:1-26.Because of His love for and hesed (covenanted loyalty) to Israel, after His wrath has accomplished His purposes (30:24; 31:1), God will regather them from the uttermost parts of the earth (not just Babylon) and replant them in the promised land, where they will plant vineyards and rejoice over the fruit of them. Israel will “not sorrow any more at all” (31:12) which has to be yet future. He will regather and bless Israel, a righteous and holy nation, and satisfy them.
31:27-34.
This passage contains the “new covenant” that God will make with the regathered nation of Israel. The noteworthy features of this covenant are in the text above, but a few highlights are:
- The new covenant will be with the regathered literal nation of Israel, not the Gentiles.
- It will occur after they are replanted back in the promised land.
- It will be unlike the Mosaic covenant which they broke, implying it won't be broken.
- It will be internalized; God's law (still in effect) will be written on their hearts.
- Israel will then live in covenantal loyalty with God; they will be exclusively His people.
- Everyone will know God, and there will be no need for teaching (nor DailyTruthbase.blog).
- God will forgive their iniquity.
- God will not “remember” their sin (hold it against them to prevent the relationship).
God will enable this internalization of the law by His Spirit. In Deuteronomy 6:6 He commanded them to have the old covenant in their hearts and teach the commands to their children. In Proverbs 3:3 and 7:3 individuals have the responsibility to write the law on the tablet of their heart. The giving of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth is integral to the internalization of God's Truth in individuals:
Isaiah 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense. 19 So shall they fear the name of Yahweh from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Yahweh drives. 20 "A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from disobedience in Jacob," says Yahweh. 21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says Yahweh. "My Spirit who is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed’s seed," says Yahweh, "from henceforth and forever." (cf. 2Cor 3:3)
31:35-40.
God makes it incredibly clear that He will never abandon the literal, physical nation of Israel, and Jerusalem will be permanently rebuilt. The sun and moon would have to cease to operate, the heaven would have to be measured, before He would abandon the holy and righteous nation.
Application
It is only as we internalize God's words and values that we can live in covenantal loyalty with Him and experience the relationship He desires, and for which we were created.
Prayer
God, may Your word dwell at the very core of my being and values, so the decisions I make delight You, and I can trust that You will delight me. Amen.
Jeremiah 32 Nothing is Too Hard for God
1.The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.2.Now at that time the king of Babylon’s army was besieging Jerusalem; and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the court of the guard, which was in the king of Judah’s house.3.For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Why do you prophesy, and say, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;4.and Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall see his eyes;5.and he shall bring Zedekiah to Babylon, and he shall be there until I visit him, says Yahweh: though you fight with the Chaldeans, you shall not prosper?6.Jeremiah said, The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,7.Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle shall come to you, saying, Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.8.So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of Yahweh, and said to me, Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself. Then I knew that this was the word of Yahweh.9.I bought the field that was in Anathoth13.I commanded Baruch before them, saying,14.Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, this deed of the purchase which is sealed, and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel; that they may continue many days.15.For thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall yet again be bought in this land.16.Now after I had delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to Yahweh, saying,17.Ah Lord Yahweh! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for you,18.who show hesed/loyal covenantal love to thousands, and recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the great, the mighty God, Yahweh of Hosts is his name;19.great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open on all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:20.who performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, both in Israel and among other men; and made yourself a name, as in this day;21.and brought forth your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror;22.and gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;23.and they came in, and possessed it, but they didn’t obey your voice, neither walked in your law; they have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do: therefore you have caused all this evil to come on them.24.Behold, the mounds, they have come to the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence; and what you have spoken has happened; and behold, you see it.25.You have said to me, Lord Yahweh, Buy the field for money, and call witnesses; whereas the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.26.Then came the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah, saying,27.Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?28.Therefore thus says Yahweh: Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:29.and the Chaldeans, who fight against this city, shall come and set this city on fire, and burn it, with the houses, on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal, and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.30.For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only that which was evil in my sight from their youth; for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, says Yahweh.31.For this city has been to me a provocation of my anger and of my wrath from the day that they built it even to this day; that I should remove it from before my face,32.because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.33.They have turned to me the back, and not the face: and though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction.34.But they set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it.35.They built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through fire to Molech; which I didn’t command them, neither did it come into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.36.Now therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, concerning this city, about which you say, It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence:37.Behold, I will gather them out of all the countries, where I have driven them in my anger, and in my wrath, and in great indignation; and I will bring them again to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:38.and they shall be my people, and I will be their God:39.and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good, and of their children after them:40.and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good; and I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me.41.Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.42.For thus says Yahweh: Like as I have brought all this great evil on this people, so will I bring on them all the good that I have promised them.43.Fields shall be bought in this land, about which you say, It is desolate, without man or animal; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.44.Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe the deeds, and seal them, and call witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the hill country, and in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South: for I will cause their captivity to return, says Yahweh.Observations
32:1-6.Poor Jeremiah gets imprisoned by wicked Zedekiah, who can quote the prophesy against his wickedness, but doesn't repent.
32:7-15.
God tells Jeremiah to buy/redeem land in his hometown, as a witness to the plan of God to return the exiles to Israel. If they were going to be permanently dispossessed, ownership of the land would be worthless.
32:16-25.
Jeremiah prays to God giving great insight into God's character and actions, expressing faith that nothing is too difficult for the Creator God, including bringing Israel back into the promised land (after all, He did it the first time).
32:26-44.
God responds by reiterating His plans for Israel, justifying His ways, and adding the everlasting aspect of the new covenant, and elaborating upon putting fear in people's hearts so they will obey, and He can bless.
Application
There is nothing too difficult for God to do, so there is no lack of desire or power to bless His people; the only limiting factor is our fear and obedience.
Prayer
God, may I fear displeasing You and reaping Your wrath, so I may obey You and reap Your blessing. Thanks for being the kind of God who rejoices over doing good to His servants. Amen.
Jeremiah 33 We Call; God Answers
1.Moreover the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet imprisoned in the court of the guard, saying,2.Thus says Yahweh who does it, Yahweh who forms it to establish it; Yahweh is his name:3.Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great and mighty things, which you don’t know.4.For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken down to make a defense against the mounds and against the sword;5.while men come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have killed in my anger and in my wrath, and for all whose wickedness I have hidden my face from this city:6.Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them; and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and truth.7.I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.8.I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, by which they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, by which they have sinned against me, and by which they have transgressed against me.9.This city shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do to them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure to it.10.Thus says Yahweh: Yet again there shall be heard in this place, about which you say, It is waste, without man and without animal, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without animal,11.the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, Give thanks to Yahweh of Hosts, for Yahweh is good, for his hesed/loyal covenantal love endures forever; who bring thanksgiving into the house of Yahweh. For I will cause the captivity of the land to return as at the first, says Yahweh.12.Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: Yet again shall there be in this place, which is waste, without man and without animal, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.13.In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks again pass under the hands of him who numbers them, says Yahweh.14.Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah.15.In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.16.In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name by which she shall be called: Yahweh our righteousness.17.For thus says Yahweh: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;18.neither shall the priests the Levites lack a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to burn meal offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.19.The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,20.Thus says Yahweh: If you can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, so that there shall not be day and night in their season;21.then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.22.As the hosts of the sky can’t be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites who minister to me.23.The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,24.Don’t consider what this people has spoken, saying, The two families which Yahweh chose, he has cast them off? thus do they despise my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.25.Thus says Yahweh: If my covenant of day and night fails, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;26.then will I also cast away the seed of Jacob, and of David my servant, so that I will not take of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and will have mercy on them.Observations
33:1-9.God invites Jeremiah to call upon Him, and He will answer and show him things he hasn't even imagined. (“Hey God, how about a different room?”) God promises to pardon and cleanse Israel so He can bless them so much, all nations will see it and fear Him. Since this hasn't happened yet, its fulfillment must be still future, or God's a liar.
33:10-16.
God promises that people will praise Him again in Jerusalem for His goodness and hesed. At that time God will cause the Branch/Messiah to occupy the Davidic throne in Jerusalem. He gets very specific about the places in the land where Israel will be regathered, which make it impossible to “spiritualize” the promises. It will happen as God has promised.
33:17-26.
God reaffirms the Davidic covenant (2Sam 7). The only thing that would cause the covenant promise to be broken is if there is no longer day or night (life on earth no longer exists).
Application
God can be totally trusted to do what He said. For what are you calling upon Him? How are you asking for His goodness to you to reflect His glory?
Prayer
God, thanks for inviting me to call to You with my needs, and for Your willingness to answer and meet them; may my praise bring You glory. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God punishes the sins of His people, to purify them, and eventually regather and bless them. He has unlimited power to bring about His purposes, and nothing is too difficult for Him. He has plans to regather, forgive, purify, and bless the physical nation of Israel, in the promised land, by making the New Covenant with them (which hasn't happened yet). He has an unprecedented time of peace and prosperity planned.Us in a nutshell: We have the ability to recite on our lips the very words of God that we are rejecting in our hearts and actions. That behavior will get us punished. However, we can be recipients of God's gracious pardon if we repent.