By Eugene Garner

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 30

A SONG OF DELIVERANCE

    The keynote of the following four chapters is a contrast to most of Jeremiah's prophecies; they set forth the hope of restoration. One might almost summarize chapters 30-31 as a hymn of deliverance and triumph for the people of God. Chapters 32-33 are set in the tenth year of Zedekiah's reign. They deal with matters that transpired while Jeremiah was imprisoned for his very fidelity to his people and to his God. One is reminded of the exuberant joyfulness of the apostle Paul in the four letters that he wrote and sent forth from his imprisonment in Rome.
    The days were dark and dreary. Jerusalem was surrounded by the armies of Babylon. Though every passing day proved more clearly the validity of Jeremiah's warning of impending judgment, and call for repentance, he was still imprisoned because of the stubborn rebellion of a proud and sin-bent nation! Though the circumstances might have dictated "despair," Jeremiah refused to succumb. Out of this hour of darkness and gloom came this marvelous song: of hope, deliverance, restoration and redemption!

    The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

    1. Jeremiah is commanded, by the Lord, to write in a book the things that the Lord has spoken to him, (vs. 1-2; comp. 25:13; 36:4, 27-28, 32; Hab. 22).
    2. This is with a coming day of redemption and restoration in view, (vs. 3; comp. 29:10).
      a. There is definitely coming a day when the Lord will set His people free from the oppression of their captors, (vs. 3a, 18; 29:14; Zeph. 3:19-20; Psa, 53:6).
      b. Israel and Judah will return to the land that the Lord gave to their fathers - possessing it in perpetuity, (vs. 3b; 3:18; 16:15; 23:7-8; Ezek. 20:42; 36:24).

    4 And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

    1. Looking beyond the time of Jeremiah, the Lord spoke to him of hearing, concerning Israel and Judah, a cry of fear and trembling - where there was no peace, (vs. 4-5; 62:4-25 8:16; Isa. 5:30; Amos 5:16-18).
    2. Strong men are pictured as doubled up in pain - like women in the labor of childbirth; their faces are pale with the dread of ever increasing terror, (vs. 6; 22:23; 4:31).
    3. This coming day, in the future of the nation, is called "the time of Jacob's trouble," (Joel 2:11; Ezek. 2:14; Lam. 1:12; Jer. 2:27-28 14:8); yet, there is a note of hope: "he shall be saved OUT OF IT,"(vs. 7, 10; 50:19).
      a. This will be such a time of tribulation and trouble as this world has never seen before, (Matt. 24:15-22).
      b. But, as always, the Lord will manifest His sovereignty over the situation by preserving, purging and delivering His people - bringing them forth as silver and gold that is well refined, (Matt. 24:13, 29-31; I Pet. 1:7-9).
    4. It should be evident to all that the "DAY" referred to (in vs. 9) is NOT a 24-hour day, but an eschatological day - even "the Day of the Lord" wherein He will vindicate Himself and those who have been faithful to His covenant, (vs. 8-9).
      a. This day of judgment will be introduced by such a display of cosmic phenomena as will cause men's hearts to fail them "for fear" of what is coming upon the earth, (Joel 2:31; Obad. 15; Lk. 21:26).
      b. In that day the Lord will break the yoke of the oppressor from off the necks of His people - so liberating them from bondage that they wilt never become bondmen to strangers again, (vs. 8; 2:20; 27:2; Isa. 9:4; Ezek. 34:27).
      c. Then they wilt joyfully serve Jehovah their God - rendering faithful and obedient service to the Messianic David who will be raised up to rule righteously over Israel and the nations, (Isa. 55:3; Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24-25; Hos. 3:5).
    5. Thus, the Lord admonishes Jacob to trust and not be afraid, (vs. 10; comp. Isa. 41:10; 43:5; 44:1-2).
      a. He wilt save him from afar - delivering his seed from the land of their captivity, (23:3, 8; 29:14; Isa. 60:4).
      b. Jacob wilt return to his own land, in peace and security - with no further cause for fear, (33:16; Hos. 2:8; Mic. 4:4).
    6. Their scattering will be a loving and necessary act of discipline, but the Lord will never fully abandon, or give up His people, (vs. 11).
      a. He is with them to save them.
      b. Though He makes a full end of those nations whom He has used as instruments of discipline and judgment (46:28), He will NOT do so to Israel, (4:27; 5:10, 18).
      c. His faithfulness to correct His erring people is one of the surest evidences of God's love, (10:23-24; comp. Heb. 12:6-11).

    12 For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. 13 There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. 14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. 15 Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. 16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. 17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

    1. In verses 12-15 Judah is pictured as grievously and mortally wounded like a soldier stricken in battle - abandoned and forgotten by her political allies, (vs. 14a; comp. 22:20, 22).
      a. There is no one to plead her cause; those on whom she has leaned do not come forward to bind up her wounds.
      b. Nor does she have any healing medicines, (14:19; comp. 46:11).
      c. Because of her great wickedness (5:6; 32:30-35; 44:20-23), Jehovah Himself has brought this chastisement upon her - as if she were His enemy! (vs. 14b; Lam. 2:4-5; Jer. 50:41-42).
      d. No amount of crying will now avert the judgment necessitated by her persistent rebellion against her Divine Lover, (vs. 15).
    2. But, there IS a word of hope and consolation, (vs. 16-17).
      a. Those nations whom God has used as instruments of His divine discipline upon Judah will (because of their own sinful attitude in its infliction) themselves be judged, (vs. 16; comp. 2:3; 10:25; Isa. 14:2; Jer. 50:10; Matt. 7:2).
      b. In His divine graciousness, the Lord will restore health to Zion - healing ALL her wounds, (vs. 17; 8:22; 33:6; comp. Psa. 107:20).
      c. Though no one else may care, God always cares for the outcast, and yearns for the opportunity whereby He may, righteously, restore them to fullness of life, (33:23-26; Isa. 11:12; 56:8).

    18 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. 19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. 20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. 21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD. 22 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

    1. Here is a promise of divine compassion and redemption from captivity, (vs. 18, 3; 31:23).
      a. Jerusalem will be rebuilt on the hill of Zion, (31:4, 38-40).
      b. The palace will be rebuilt and inhabited as of old, (Psa. 48:1-3, 13; 122:7).
    2. Joy, thanksgiving, honor, praise, prosperity and stability describe the blessedness that awaits Judah's restoration, (vs. 19-20; Psa. 126:1-2; Isa. 12:1; 51:3; 54:13-14; 55:5, 60:9; Jer. 17:26; 31:17; 33:10-11, 22; Zeph. 3:14-15).
    3. To them will be given a ruler, from among themselves, who, as king-priest, will be able to draw near to God, (vs. 21; 23:5-6; 33:14-16; Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24; comp. Num. 16:5; Psa 65:4).
    4. The nation will then be restored to a position of covenant-relationship with Jehovah, (vs. 22; 32:38; comp. Ex. 6:7; Hos. 2:23).

    23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. 24 The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

    1. The wrath of God is viewed as a storm bursting upon the heads of the wicked, (vs. 23; 23:19-20).
    2. Nor will His anger be abated until He has accomplished the purpose of His heart, (vs. 24a; comp. 4:8).
    3. In the latter days His people will consider the wisdom of His ways which have often been so perplexing to them, (vs. 24b; comp. Matt. 23:39; 21:9-11; Psa. 118:26).