November 15, 2022

Jeremiah 31:7-14 (HCSB)
God’s People Brought Home
7 For this is what the Lord says: Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the chief of the nations! Proclaim, praise, and say, “Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!” 8 Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land. I will gather them from remote regions of the earth — the blind and the lame will be with them, along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth. They will return here as a great assembly! 9 They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water by a smooth way where they will not stumble, for I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn. 10 Nations, hear the word of the Lord, and tell it among the far off coastlands! Say: The One who scattered Israel will gather him. He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock, 11 for the Lord has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the power of one stronger than he. 12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant with joy because of the Lord’s goodness, because of the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil, and because of the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like an irrigated garden, and they will no longer grow weak from hunger. 13 Then the young woman will rejoice with dancing, while young and old men rejoice together. I will turn their mourning into joy, give them consolation, and bring happiness out of grief. 14 I will refresh the priests with an abundance, and My people will be satisfied with My goodness. This is the Lord’s declaration.

Neil Andrews
These chapters paint an image of a new exodus. The people celebrate as they return, their mourning becomes dancing, weeping becomes joy. This is a noticeable reversal of the judgment in Jeremiah 1-29. In a similar way, several chapters in Jeremiah have indicated that God’s scattered people will be brought back. In keeping with this theme of reversal, it’s really not ironic that the weakest (the blind, the lame, and the pregnant) return as a great throng, (the Hebrew qahal implies a powerful assembly/army)…transformed from defeated to an army!  Jeremiah 31:11 says that YHWH ransomed and redeemed Jacob. The Hebrew word for redeemed is padah, to buy something back. Qa’al is tied to family law – buying back a family house or even family members from slavery.  YHWH loves His people so much that He leaves the 99 sheep for the 1 lost. (Matthew 18:12).   As you face sickness, despair, or grief, be encouraged!  God knows your pain and has promised to work His great purpose in your lives if you take your concerns to Him in prayer. We’re assured He will reprimand us as a parent does their children, His genuine admonishment comes from great and overwhelming love.