Jeremiah 30:1-24
Q.1. What prophecy was Jeremiah instructed to record? Would Israel avoid strife? What comes after the time of Jacob’s distress? – (Jer.30:1-11)
God told His prophet to – Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book (Jer.30:2 c.f. Hab.2:2-3). It was to be recorded because the prophecy pertained to a distant future (see Jer.30:24). Though the judgment to come was inevitable and terrible, God promised – behold days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall possess it (Jer.30:3). This must have been a great comfort amid predictions of unprecedented trouble – Alas! For that day is great, there is none like it; and it is the time of JACOB’S DISTRESS but he will be saved from it (Jer.30:7 c.f. Mt.24:21-22). After the time of great tribulation, God will save Jacob’s offspring (Jer.30:7 c.f. Zech.12:1-10; 13:1; Rom.11:25-27). The time of Jacob’s Distress or Jacob’s Trouble refers to the time of the Great Tribulation that will engulf Israel and the remaining nations of the world (see Jer.30:7 c.f. Dan.9:24-27; 12:1; Mt.24:21; Zech.13:7-9; Rev.Chpts.6-18). God gave the nation a wonderful promise – that He would break their oppression and regather Jacob from the land of their captivity (Jer.30:8-10). Nevertheless, He would first chasten His people – ‘For I am with you,’ declares the Lord, ‘to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you. Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly and will by no means leave you unpunished’ (Jer.30:11). He pointed to a future time when – they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them (Jer.30:9). These prophecies have never happened yet but will. It is hard to imagine these Scriptures being fulfilled in the sinful world as we know it.
Q.2. What made punishment unavoidable? What would happen to their persecutors? Why? What made the promise so gracious? – (Jer.30:12-17)
Jeremiah again addressed Judah – 12 “For thus says the Lord, ‘Your wound is incurable and your injury is serious. 13 ‘There is no one to plead your cause; No healing for your sore, no recovery for you. 14 ‘… For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the punishment of a cruel one, because your iniquity is great and your sins are numerous (Jer.30:12-14). Nevertheless, the Lord promised to restore His people, and to destroy and scatter those who devoured them and desecrated Zion (see Jer.30:16-17). The people of Judah had no strength to save themselves, let alone punish Babylon. However, God in His grace would do it.
Q.3. What did God promise about His city? What place would their ruler and the people have? When would God’s plan be clear? – (Jer.30:18-24)
God promised to restore the city to its rightful place (see Jer.30:18). The population would increase and there would be unceasing joy (see Jer.30:19). A number of the promises suggest that this was a prophecy about a future time when Christ reigns: (i) Faith will be restored – ‘You shall be My people, and I will be your God’ (see Jer.30:22 c.f. Jer.30:19-20); (ii) One of their descendants will rule and have access to a holy God (see Jer.30:21); (iii) His wrath will be poured out first – The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has performed and until He has accomplished the intent of His heart; In the latter days you will understand this (Jer.30:24). As in Ezekiel’s ‘Valley of Dry Bones’, we eagerly await the fulfilment – I will put My Spirit in you and you will live … (Ezk.37:14 c.f. 2 Pet.3:11-12). This is why Jeremiah was commanded to record these prophecies (see Jer.30:2 c.f. Dan.8:26; Hab.2:2-3).
NOTE: Israel was encouraged by King Cyrus of Persia for Israel to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. However, the Shekinah Glory of God did not return and will not do so until the Millennial Reign of Christ (Ezk.43:1-7; Rev.20:1-6). In other words, there is a future miraculous birth of the nation of Israel that we now know occurred in May 1948. Nor will God give Israel a new heart and new Spirit until she beholds the One they have pierced and cry in repentance and faith in the Saviour after the Great Tribulation at the Second Coming of Christ (Jer.31:31-37; Ezk.36:22-30; Hos.5:15; Zech.12:10; 13:1; Rom.11:25-27).