An Opportunity to Make a Fresh Start
October 27, 2020
Commentary
In addition to a new beginning God promised to make a New Covenant with His people (vv. 31-37). Here is the promise of a “New Covenant.” This is the only mention of a “New Covenant” in the OT (v. 31). There are some differences between the old and new covenants (vv. 32-34).
The Sinai covenant demanded obedience, while the new covenant offers forgiveness of sin.The old covenant was written on stone, while the new covenant is carved on the hearts.The old covenant was between God and Israel, the new covenant is between God and believers.Ezekiel indicated that this change will result from God’s bestowal of the Holy Spirit on these believers (Ezek. 36:24-32). In Old Testament times the Holy Spirit did not universally indwell all believers. Thus one different aspect of the New Testament is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all believers (Joel 2:28-32). Another key element of the New Covenant is the preservation of Israel (vv. 35-37). God has the power to do away with His people but that isn’t His plan.
The third aspect of God’s new relationship will be the establishment of a new city for His people. Jerusalem, the city that symbolizes God’s relationship with His people, was destroyed by Babylon (vv. 38-40). But even before that event took place God promised that the city will be rebuilt. These points mark the boundries of restored Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah.
Application
God never goes back on His promises. When He promised to save me it was immediately when I asked Him to do it and it is for all eternity.
Jeremiah 31:31– 40 (NET)
31 “Indeed, a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,” says the Lord. 33 “But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people.
34 “People will no longer need to teach their neighbors and relatives to know me. For all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” says the Lord. “For I will forgive their sin and will no longer call to mind the wrong they have done.”
35 The Lord has made a promise to Israel. He promises it as the one who fixed the sun to give light by day and the moon and stars to give light by night. He promises it as the one who stirs up the sea so that its waves roll. His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
36 The Lord affirms, “The descendants of Israel will not cease forever to be a nation in my sight. That could only happen if the fixed ordering of the heavenly lights were to cease to operate before me.”
37 The Lord says, “I will not reject all the descendants of Israel because of all that they have done. That could only happen if the heavens above could be measured or the foundations of the earth below could all be explored,” says the Lord.
38 “Indeed a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when the city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt as my special city. It will be built from the Tower of Hananel westward to the Corner Gate. 39 The boundary line will extend beyond that, straight west from there to the Hill of Gareb and then turn southward to Goah. 40 The whole valley where dead bodies and sacrificial ashes are thrown, and all the terraced fields out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far north as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be included within this city that is sacred to the Lord. The city will never again be torn down or destroyed.”