Bible in a Year Series -
Day #228 - This post is
part
of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the
Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to
join along at any time.
Today's
text from the ESV Study Bible: Jeremiah 32-34
As we continue our chronological journey through the Bible, I have noticed that we have many voices speaking to us during this particular time in history.
Have you noticed?
We are standing at the doorstep at one of history's most significant events, and the number of prophets that God has sent to warn his people has not escaped my notice.
God has made it abundantly clear that he will not tolerate sin from his creation. Furthermore, we are soon to discover that God's abhorrence to sin also applies to his bride Israel.
We are going to see, in a few short day, a horrific display of God's holy anger, and all Judah will be destroyed save a remnant that will be deposed to live in exile under Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon.
After 29 chapters of doom, Jeremiah delivers to us a most precious message from God in chapters 30-33 (the so called Book of Consolation).
These chapters offer a balm to the upcoming exiles, and furthermore, remarkably help us to look back and better understand God's plan of redemption for mankind.
One of the principles that we see clearly displayed here is that salvation comes through judgment.
Having just typed these words, I find it hard to wrap my mind around them. However, this event is most certainly a foreshadow of the cross where God's final and ultimate salvation for mankind is offered through his judgment poured out against his only Son.
Furthermore, God has also greatly announced that he is putting forth a "new covenant":
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
"And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul." (Jeremiah 32:38-41)
Moreover, as we have learned from many of God's prophets, this newly announced eternal covenant will be fulfilled in a coming future King (the Messiah).
There are great and mighty things for us to understand here. I feel frustrated that we, in our chronological study of the Bible, are going to blaze past these significant events.
However, my frustration is quelled with the understanding that Jesus, and the Apostles will most certainly bring us back to this topic when we witness "the days are coming" fulfilled in Messiah.
Who can understand these things? Who can plumb the depths of the mind of God?