Jeremiah 30
COMMENTARY:
: 1–2 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, “Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). 3789 כָּתַב [kathab /kaw·thab/] – to write, inscribe, engrave, write in, write on.
DEVOTION: It is important that we write down how God has worked or is at work in our lives. While it is precious and special we have a tendency to forget the works of God in the rush and ongoing activities of our daily lives. Journaling and keeping a diary of things God has revealed to us allows those moments to be reviewed and remembered. It is sad to realize how many times we forget the works of God and how they have affected our lives.
God does continue to speak to His people through the Holy Spirit and His word. He uses the written word to chastise and correct. He also speaks through it to encourage and instruct. May we write down the things that He is instructing us about so that we can go back and reflect and review those truths another day!
CHALLENGE: Most of us are not writers and the significance of a journal is not recognized. Yet the written word can be a source of encouragement and joy as we take the time to write and review God’s works or seemingly silent times in our lives. It can bring encouragement and we can see answers that when we write about a problem is not present or revealed. Take time to see how God is at work in your life and then jot down that significant event or revealed truth. It may be helpful in the future as you review your journals! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
: 11 For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered you, yet will I NOT make a full end of you: but I will correct you in measure, and will not leave you altogether unpunished. (3256 “correct” [yacar] means to chastise, discipline, instruct, punish to improve behavior, teach, instruct, reform, or admonish.)
DEVOTION: This is a chapter of hope and encouragement to the children of Judah. There was going to be chastening of the children of Judah because of their sin.
Their sin kept increasing to the point that the LORD had to discipline them. However, HE promised a future restoration.
This chapter seems to be explaining the future hope of Israel. This future hope had an heir of David sitting on the throne. This was going to happen after a time of Jacob’s trouble.
When HE was on the throne there would be thanksgiving. There would be a time of making merry in Jerusalem.
At this time there would be judgment on all the nations that hurt Israel. The temple would be rebuild. The city of Jerusalem would be rebuild. When will this time period be?
Scholars seem to disagree but it is thought that this time period would be part of the end of the world.
There would be a time of Tribulation called Jacob’s trouble or the seventy week of Daniel.
There would be a time when the Messiah would reign called the Millennium. There would be a time when Jerusalem would be restored. This is all going to happen when the LORD Jesus Christ returns as the Messiah to reign on the throne of David.
The time of the Tribulation will be a time of judgment on Israel but also on the nations of the world. Israel would be spared. There will be a time of thanksgiving and making merry. This describes the future hope of Israel. We think this is a good description of the future of Israel.
What is in store for those who are followers of Christ right now? We believe that the followers of Christ today make up the church both local and universal. The church will be taken up to be with Christ before the time of Jacob’s trouble which is the Tribulation period described in the book of Revelation and other places in the Word of God.
During the Millennium those who are believer today will reign with Christ.
Jeremiah told the children of Judah that the LORD had a plan and was working HIS plan. HIS plan included the judgment of the nations and the blessing of Israel.
In captivity, they had HOPE. In our present circumstance we can also have the HOPE that the LORD is working HIS plan for us. We will be standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ receiving our rewards and crowns. Let us stay busy for the LORD now!
CHALLENGE: The chastening of the LORD is measured. It is not too much or too little. It is just right for the children of Israel to repent and it is just right for us to repent.
:15 Why cry you for your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable for the multitude of your iniquity: because your sins warer increased, I have done these things to you. (605 “incurable” [‘anash] means desperate, very sick, incapable of being cured, beyond cure, despairing, MALIGNANT DISPOSITION OF MIND or disastrous.)
DEVOTION: The LORD told Israel that HE had a just cause to discipline them. Their punishment was needed to get their attention. They had to realize that HE wanted them to serve HIM in spirit and in truth but they were having none of it.
They wanted to do as they pleased but they didn’t want the punishment for their sins which is not what happens to those who disobey.
Parents who let their children continue to sin and sin and don’t punish them for their sins are going to see the consequences of their sins usually in short order. The LORD wants parents to raise their children to be obedient to the commands of the LORD both in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
So even today the LORD will discipline those who claim to be HIS followers. There are many people who attend church but have never made a genuine commitment to the LORD. These individuals will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
Those who are genuine in their commitment to the LORD will be disciplined even to the point of premature death. God loves HIS genuine children to the point of taking them early to be with HIM.
CHALLENGE: There are many Christian parents who are raising children that don’t know the LORD. There are some who raise them to become believers who will see the LORD discipline them to cause them to grow in faith.
: 17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, says the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeks after. (5080 “outcast” [nadach] means scared away one, thrust out one, banished one, scattered one, or one gone astray.)
DEVOTION: The children of Judah are going into captivity because their sin was great. The LORD had to chasten them because they didn’t think HE cared if they sinned. They had a wrong belief that needed to be corrected. They thought that if they attended the Temple and brought their sacrifices the LORD would be content to let them live as they pleased.
The LORD is a HOLY God. HE can’t allow sin to go unpunished. HE however is a God of LOVE and so was going to allow the punishment to last only long enough for them to repent.
In the future HE was going to restore health to them. HE was going to heal their sin. HE was going to forgive their sin. HE was going to bury their sins in the deepest part of the ocean. HE was going to remove it as far as the east is from the west.
While they were going through the chastening of the LORD they were called the “scared away ones.” They were being observed by the heathen nations. They didn’t understand chastening and its purpose.
Its purpose was to cause the children of Israel to repent and return to the LORD and then HE could restore them.
CHALLENGE: We all need restored health from sin. Our sins are covered by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus covered our sins. HE can restore us to fellowship. Our responsibility is to repent.
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