Thursday, April 18, 2024

Jeremiah 32: Hope beyond Jeremiah's death

In Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah is in prison because the king Zedekiah didn't like his preaching. Around  588 BC, it was very clear that Nebuchadnezzar II would destroy Jerusalem because in Jeremiah's words praying to the Lord:

24 Behold, the assault ramps have reached the city to take it; and the city has been handed over to the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine, and the plague; and what You have spoken has come to pass; and behold, You see it.

In fact, In 587 BC, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Kingdom of Judah, and its capital, Jerusalem. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II).
The Lord says to Jeremiah to buy a property that his cousin Hanamel (his uncle Shallum’s son) would offer him; and indeed it happened in his prison. Jeremiah knows that he is going to loose money, complaining to the Lord:

25 Yet You have said to me, Lord [f]God, “Buy for yourself the field with money and call in witnesses”—although the city has been handed over to the Chaldeans.’”

The Lord wanted to show through this that he would restore the land to his people.

36 “But there is also this Message from me, the God of Israel, to this city of which you have said, ‘In killing and starvation and disease this city will be delivered up to the king of Babylon’:

37-40 “‘Watch for this! I will collect them from all the countries to which I will have driven them in my anger and rage and indignation. Yes, I’ll bring them all back to this place and let them live here in peace. They will be my people, I will be their God. I’ll make them of one mind and heart, always honoring me, so that they can live good and whole lives, they and their children after them. What’s more, I’ll make a covenant with them that will last forever, a covenant to stick with them no matter what, and work for their good. I’ll fill their hearts with a deep respect for me so they’ll not even think of turning away from me.

41 “‘Oh how I’ll rejoice in them! Oh how I’ll delight in doing good things for them! Heart and soul, I’ll plant them in this country and keep them here!’

We Christians understand that we are the people of the Lord, and the Almighty is our God, thus, we are in this new covenant that will last forever. May the Lord fill our hearts with a deep respect for Him so we'll not even think of turning away from Him.

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