God Will Restore His People
March 12, 2019
Commentary
God told Jeremiah to write His promises of comfort in a book so they would be available to the exiles after Jerusalem fell (vv. 1-3). This book would declare a note of hope that the days are coming when God will restore His people. Jeremiah pointed to a day of restoration when God will bring the nations of Judah and Israel into a new relationship with Him and when He will set straight His accounts with the Gentile nations. The return of Israel and Judah to the land will be preceded by a time of national distress (vv.4-7). Cries of fear and terror will be heard among these captives instead of cries of peace (v. 5). Jeremiah compared the anguish of men clutching themselves in fear to a woman in labor (v. 6). The coming calamity will be so awful that none will be like it in comparison. Jeremiah characterized it as a time of trouble (v. 7).
The period will end when Christ appears to rescue His elect and establish His kingdom (v. 8-11). When God comes to rescue the nation, He will break the yoke of bondage He had placed on her neck (v. 8). This deliverance did not come when the false prophets predicted it would, but God said it will come eventually. Instead of serving foreign powers the nation will once again serve the Lord. The people will also submit to the authority of David their king whom God will raise up for them (v. 9). God’s promise of restoration was designed to give Israel hope (v. 10). God will completely destroy the nations where Israel and Judah had been scattered (v. 11).
Application
Jeremiah presents near and distant events as if they will happen soon. He sees the exile, but he sees also the future day when Christ will reign forever (The Millinieum). I am ready for that day.
Jeremiah 30:1– 11 (NET)
1 The Lord spoke to Jeremiah. 2 “The Lord God of Israel says, ‘Write everything that I am about to tell you in a scroll. 3 For I, the Lord, affirm that the time will come when I will reverse the plight of my people, Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord. ‘I will bring them back to the land I gave their ancestors and they will take possession of it once again.’”
4 So here is what the Lord has to say about Israel and Judah.
5 Yes, here is what he says: “You hear cries of panic and of terror; there is no peace in sight.
6 Ask yourselves this and consider it carefully: Have you ever seen a man give birth to a baby? Why then do I see all these strong men grabbing their stomachs in pain like a woman giving birth? And why do their faces turn so deathly pale?
7 Alas, what a terrible time of trouble it is! There has never been any like it. It is a time of trouble for the descendants of Jacob, but some of them will be rescued out of it.
8 When the time for them to be rescued comes,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will rescue you from foreign subjugation. I will deliver you from captivity. Foreigners will then no longer subjugate them.
9 But they will be subject to the Lord their God and to the Davidic ruler whom I will raise up as king over them.
10 So I, the Lord, tell you not to be afraid, you descendants of Jacob, my servants. Do not be terrified, people of Israel. For I will rescue you and your descendants from a faraway land where you are captives. The descendants of Jacob will return to their land and enjoy peace. They will be secure and no one will terrify them.
11 For I, the Lord, affirm that I will be with you and will rescue you. I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you. But I will not completely destroy you. I will indeed discipline you, but only in due measure. I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished.”