We are looking at a section in Jeremiah’s prophecy where God is proclaiming his message of hope and encouragement to his people. Though they will go into exile because of their sins, their future hope lies in the coming of the Christ. Sin is an incurable wound. There is nothing we can do and nothing anyone else can do for our sins (cf. Jeremiah 30:12-13). But Christ is the one who will uphold the cause of his people and be able to approach God on our behalf (cf. Jeremiah 30:21). Through Christ, the relationship that was fractured by sin will be restored. God will be their God and they will be God’s people (cf. Jeremiah 30:22). Chapter 31 opens by looking at the same point in time, that is, when Christ comes. You will notice in Jeremiah 31:1 the message continues with, “At that time I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” So as we look to chapter 31 we are going to see more vivid imagery about the work God would do to rescue his people. I have struggled with a title for this lesson because there are so many different pictures given to us in the first half of Jeremiah 31 that it was hard to decide which picture should be the title. But we are going to lean into seeing Christ as our redeemer. Open your copies of God’s word to Jeremiah 31 and let’s start seeing how great Christ is and what he has come to do for his people.
Everlasting Love (Jeremiah 31:1-6)
The picture begins with God’s constant and everlasting love for his people. He reminds Israel in their time in the wilderness where they found grace when looking for rest. This appears to refer back to the exodus when the people of Israel were in need of rest and rescue. So God showed them grace and brought them into the wilderness where he showed them his everlasting love. The way that God would draw his people to him was by displaying his faithful, unfailing love toward them. Throughout Israel’s history and all of their failures, God continued to faithfully love his people in an effort to draw his people to love him and be faithful to him. God’s love has always been with the purpose of drawing all people to himself.
But then God says something absolutely stunning in verse 4. It is easy to miss as God describes that he will rebuild and restore his people. Notice that he calls his people “virgin Israel.” Now this reference requires some knowledge of the other prophecies that have been delivered against Israel. Hosea, for example, repeatedly describes Israel as unfaithful. Israel is described as practicing harlotry and adultery (cf. Hosea 2:2,5). Jeremiah has also described the people’s unfaithful as adultery and harlotry (cf. Jeremiah 2:20-25; 3:1-9). The prophet Ezekiel also uses this imagery to describe the people’s unfaithfulness. But notice here in Jeremiah 31:4 that God does not speak of his people this way. He does not speak of his people has being adulterous or unfaithful. Rather, he calls them “virgin Israel.” The people are being given a fresh start. It is as if they get to start all over as if the past had never happened and they can wear the “virgin” title again. They are not the promiscuous people but the faithful people. What amazing love that God tells his people that we can start over! We can erase the slate of failure and begin a new relationship. This is why you see the people expressing such joy and celebration in verses 4-6. Everyone will shout for joy and desire to return the Lord our God (Jeremiah 31:6).
A Different Heart (Jeremiah 31:7-9)
The offer of a completely fresh start changes everything for the people. You will notice a transformation in the hearts of the people. Verses 7-8 describe the remnant returning to the Lord from all over the earth. Notice that it is not merely the strong who can return but the blind, the lame, and those in labor. You might remember the last lesson where we saw Jesus as our healer, exemplified by the healing miracles he did. Now we are seeing the blind and lame returning to the Lord, picturing a full inclusion of all who desire to come to him. I want to focus our attention on verse 9 because this reveals the changed heart. They will come back weeping and with pleas for mercy. These are a people who are poor in spirit and are mourning over their sins. The people are returning the Lord with contrition. The NET reads, “They will come back shedding tears of contrition. I will bring them back praying prayers of repentance.” (Jeremiah 31:9 NET). Further, God will care for his people as they return to him. He will lead them by streams of water and on a straight path where they will not stumble. This imagery reminds us of Psalm 23 where we read that the Lord our shepherd who leads us besides still waters. As we are broken by our sins, weeping with pleas for mercy, and seeking his healing, we are not turned away because of our sins. Rather, the Lord is offering a fresh start. He will lead them back and care for them so they will not stumble.
A Redeeming Shepherd (Jeremiah 31:10-14)
A proclamation is to be made to all the nations of the earth. The Lord who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock. You will notice the shepherding image in verse 10, confirming the implications of Psalm 23 being infused into this text. But the question now arises. How is all of this happening? How can the people return in spite of their sins? How can God bring the scattered back and give them a new start? Look at verse 11. “For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed his from hands too strong for him” (Jeremiah 31:11 ESV). The answer is redemption. The answer is a ransom. Both are pictures of a payment being made to either buy something back or set something or someone free. If we talk about a ransom price, the first thing we probably think about is from the movies where a person is captured and a price must be paid to set that person free. The imagery here is that we are the ones who are enslaved, captured by our sins, and in need of redemption.
It is important to consider that this imagery is the strongest imagery applied to Christ in the New Testament (cf. Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 1:18; Revelation 5:9; Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:12; Luke 1:68; 24:21; Galatians 3:13; 4:5; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:15). When Jesus spoke of his own work, he proclaimed that he came to give his life as a ransom for many (cf. Matthew 20:28). The New Testament repeatedly speaks of the redemption that has occurred in Christ. We are enslaved to sins and God is teaching us that a price needed to be paid. However, the price that is insufficient for payment is the blood of animals. God needs to show us that cost of sin is very high. We cannot look at any of our sins as inconsequential. God himself would have to give himself as a sacrifice for sins, making the necessary payment to set us free from our sins. Jesus is the ransom price needed to be paid to redeem us from all our sins. Jeremiah prophesied this need 600 years before the arrival of Christ. A redeeming shepherd would come, set us free, and gather his sheep to him. This redemption is what causes the singing and shouts for joy (Jeremiah 31:12). The reversal has occurred and mourning has been turned into joy and sorrow has been turned into gladness (Jeremiah 31:13). It is through this redemption that God’s people can be at rest and be satisfied with the goodness of God (Jeremiah 31:14).
The Darkness Before the Dawn (Jeremiah 31:15-17)
But there is another image that God wants to give to us so that we would be struck by his amazing and everlasting love. But it is a strange image to us that requires some explanation. Look at verse 15. A voice is heard in Ramah, filled with lamenting and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children and cannot be comforted because they are no more. What is this referring to? It is important to understand what this is referring to since it is quoted in the Gospel of Matthew and applied to events at the birth of Christ (cf. Matthew 2:17-18). What we will read in Jeremiah 40:1 is that Ramah was town in Judah where the exiles were gathered before being deported to Babylon. So this is a picture of hopelessness. It looks like it is the end of the nation of Israel. It looks like the end for God’s people. It looks like the covenant promises have been erased. Rachel is crying for her children, refusing to be comforted because they are not more. But look at verses 16-17. Stop weeping because there is a reward. There is hope and your children will come back. All hope is not gone. Rather, this time of darkness was setting the stage for God to redeem and rescue his people.
Now we can see why this scripture is so important in Matthew 2:17-18. Matthew quotes this in reference to King Herod attempting to kill Jesus by ordering all the male children who were two years and younger in Bethlehem and the surrounding region to be executed. That is really dark, terrible news. But Matthew is making a point. This is the time of darkness before the dawn. The time of darkness was setting the stage for God to redeem and rescue his people. Jesus will be rescued from this decree and Jesus will return to be the rescuer and redeemer of God’s people.
This is a really important message for God’s people that we need to hear today. When the darkness deepens, we can think that God does not care and will not act. We can think when we are walking in the darkness that God is far from us and is no longer listening to us. But the darkness does not mean that the dawn is not coming. Friends, every day is a reminder of this truth. Every morning we witness the darkness overcome by the light. Every day the light arises pushing back the darkness and beginning a new day. We see this in the creation. God speaks and light comes into the world, overcoming the darkness. As the night gets darker we are reminded that the dawn is coming. Matthew makes this very point at the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry, recorded in Matthew 4:12-17. John the Baptizer has been arrested and it looks like hope is lost. But the people in the darkness have seen a great light. The light was coming and when we are in the darkest of days, we turn our eyes upward to the light in Christ. There is hope for your future. Look for the light to come into the darkness.
Seek Restoration From Your Redeemer (Jeremiah 31:18-26)
This section of Jeremiah 31 concludes with the repentant response of the people. In verse 18 the people are speaking, asking to be restored because the Lord is my God. Notice the people are not denying the Lord, but confessing him to be their God and are desiring him to lead them. Look at verse 19 to their confession. They had turned away from the Lord but now they have relented and returned. How will God respond to their pleas for mercy? Look at verse 20. God’s heart yearns for his people and he will surely have mercy on them. God will not refuse the repentant heart. God will not reject those who come back to him, confessing their sins, and seeking his mercy.
Therefore, seek the path back to the Lord and do not waver because mercy awaits you!. Look at verse 21. Put up the road signs and the road markers. Get back on the road and return to your God. Notice the offer again in verse 21 as the people are called virgin Israel again. Return to the Lord your God and have the fresh start you need. Look at verse 22 where God tells us to stop wavering. God has created a new thing. God has started over with you. Because of Christ the darkness has been overcome by the light. Return for the Lord will receive you (Jeremiah 31:22). Return for the Lord will restore your fortunes (Jeremiah 31:23). Return for the Lord will satisfy the weary and replenish the languishing (Jeremiah 31:25). After receiving this prophetic message, Jeremiah woke up and savored this message of hope (Jeremiah 31:26). God will plant his people. God will satisfy the weary soul. God has made a way for you start over through Christ our Redeemer. Stop wavering. Stop wandering away. Return to the Lord and you will find your God ready to redeem you from your sins and gather you into his arms as his sheep and his children. Oh what a Savior we have!