Jeremiah

Jeremiah 33:1-4

This chapter is linked to chapter 32 in that Jeremiah is still confined to the courtyard as a prisoner.  He Lord gave him another message.  It starts with an invitation to call to him.  Those who do will hear from him about 'great and unsearchable things you do not know'.  These 'things' are the promise of restoration and salvation, while standing in the path of God's wrath.  Even in the chaos of the sword, famine and pestilence that God had told them was coming, they could have hope and comfort by calling out to Him.  These things were unknowable, unsearchable and incomprehensible as far as they could see or understand. 

The houses at the wall had been either torn down to use the materials to shore up the walls and gates or they had been repurposed for the military.  God gave them insight to the outcome of the siege.  All their efforts against Babylon would fail.  People would die in these houses when the wall was breeched and Jerusalem fell.

Jeremiah 33:5-9

Imagine seeing the houses destroyed or worse thinking of them being filled with dead bodies.  Imagine the city overrun by the enemy.  Then, in the next breath we hear of health, healing and restoration.  A future where God would bring them all home, cleanse them of their sins.  The city would prosper and all the nations would see and know what God had done. 

Jeremiah 33:10-13

They saw desolation; a wasted city with no people or animal.  But God showed them a picture of the future.  This would once again be what it once was.  They would return to their heritage and the city would have:

• Joy & Gladness
• The voice of the bride & bridegroom (celebration, normalcy)
• The voice of those bringing thank offerings!

Consider the contrast of the grumbling of verse 10 of Jerusalem in desolation verses the singing of the Psalm while making an offering to the Lord in thankfulness for all the ways He's blessed them. The Psalm quotes 106:1 and 136:1.

In addition, Judah would have flocks of sheep and pastures in which to keep them.  There would also be shepherds to care for the sheep.  This too is quite a contrast to a desolate land and city.

Jeremiah 33:14-18

'The days are coming' is a return to the prophecy given in 23:5-6.  This looks forward to the day when the Lord raises up His messiah.  He will be from the line of David and rule as a king.  He will do what is just and right in the land; unlike Zedekiah.  He neglected them ideals.  The key points are the salvation and safety under the reign of the messiah. 

Jesus is the king that carries on the line of David and sit on the throne.  The line is eternal in Christ.  In a similar way, the priesthood will be restored and the Levitical line will be shown to have not failed or died out. 

Jeremiah 33:19-26

God's covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) was, and is, as certain as the rising and setting of the sun.  But the surrounding nations will note that it appeared as though the Lord had cast off the two families (the northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah).  God's people were despised and disregarded.  Yet, the covenant stands true.  The Lord would restore their fortunes and have compassion on them. 

©2018 Doug Ford