[:en]SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 31
“The Lord appeared to us in the past,” saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit” (Jeremiah 31:3-54)
“For the Lord will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord – the grain, the new wine and the oil, They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more” (Jeremiah 31:11-12)
“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless you, O righteous dwelling, O sacred mountain’ People will live together in Judah and all its towns – farmers and those who move about with their flocks. I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31:23-25)
“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time.” declares the Lord, I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest’ declares the Lord, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:33-34)
“This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done” declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 31:37)
WHAT WILL GOD DO?
- I will be the God of all the clans of Israel and they will be my people (v. 1)
- I will come to give rest to Israel (v. 2)
- I will build you up (v. 4)
- I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth (v. 8)
- I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble (v. 9)
- I will gather them and watch over my flock like a shepherd (v. 10)
- I will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger then they (v. 11)
- I will turn their mourning into gladness and give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow (v. 13)
- I will satisfy the priests with abundance and my people will be filled with my bounty (v. 14)
- I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with offspring of men and of animals (v. 27)
- I will watch over them to build and to plant (v. 28)
- I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah (v. 31)
- I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts (v. 33a)
- I will be their God and they will be my people (v. 33b)
- I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more (v. 34)
- I will never let the city be uprooted or demolished (v. 40)
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL?
- The will be God’s people (v. 1)
- They will find favor in the desert (v. 2)
- They will be rebuilt and take up tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful (v. 4)
- They will plant vineyards and enjoy their fruit (v. 5)
- They will come with weeping and pray as God brings them back (v. 9)
- They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion and rejoice in the bounty of the Lord (v. 12)
- They will dance and be glad (v. 13)
- They will return from the land of the enemy (v. 16)
- Their children will return to their own land with hope (v. 17)
- They will use these words: “The Lord bless you, O righteous dwelling, O sacred mountain” (v. 23)
- They will know God from the least of them, to the greatest (v. 34)
FROM THIS CHAPTER, WE CAN SEE THAT GOD HAS MANY ROLES:
- He is our Lover – because he loves us with everlasting love and kindness (v. 3)
- He is our Father – As a father, he will gather us and lead our path 9v. 9)
- He is our shepherd – As a shepherd he watches over us, gives us comfort and joy and satisfies us with abundance and bounty (v. 13)
- He is our comforter – As a comforter, he gives us hope for the future (v. 17)
- He is our God – He puts his law in our minds and writes it on our hearts (v. 33)
- He is our Savior – He forgives our wickedness, forgets our sins and saves us from eternal death (v. 34)
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