From Sorrow to Joy

NOTE: For this sermon, we are borrowing from the general structure of Jeremiah presented in the “Evangelical Commentary on the Bible”.

Chapters 2-10: Sermons Warning of Disaster - DONE

Chapters 11-20: Stories about Wrestling with People and with God - DONE

Chapters 21-29: Challenging Kings and Prophets - DONE

Chapters 30-33: Book of Comfort - TODAY

Chapters 34-39: Case Studies in the Failure of Leadership

Chapters 40-45: After the Catastrophe

Chapters 46-51: Oracles about the Nations

Chapter 51: Fall of Jerusalem

Redemption from Judgment (Jer 30)

Jeremiah shifts the ton of his prophecies in chapter 30. Where before we focused on outlining Israel and Judah’s disobedience, here we start looking at the future and what will come.

This is referred to as the “book of comfort” and spans chapters 30-33.

As we read this, look at the shift in tone… from anger to rehabilitation.

Jeremiah 30:4–11 CSB

4 These are the words the Lord spoke to Israel and Judah. 5 This is what the Lord says: We have heard a cry of terror, of dread—there is no peace. 6 Ask and see whether a male can give birth. Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale? 7 How awful that day will be! There will be no other like it! It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it. 8 On that day—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies— I will break his yoke from your neck and tear off your chains, and strangers will never again enslave him. 9 They will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10 As for you, my servant Jacob, do not be afraid—this is the Lord’s declaration— and do not be discouraged, Israel, for without fail I will save you out of a distant place, your descendants, from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return and have calm and quiet with no one to frighten him. 11 For I will be with you—this is the Lord’s declaration— to save you! I will bring destruction on all the nations where I have scattered you; however, I will not bring destruction on you. I will discipline you justly, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.

Rehabilitation, NOT Punishment (philosophy) —> Verse 11 says “I will discipline you justly”… it’s discipline and not vengeance!

Punishment —> Focused on inducing a negative consequence on someone so that they will be dissuaded in the future out of fear.

Often results in being fearful “of being caught” rather than true change in heart.

Rehabilitation —> Focused on making offenders understand impact and moral implications of their actions.

Seeks to address “root cause” of behavior rather than symptoms.

Rehabilitation Imagery

Verse 6: “like a woman in labor” —> Though pain for a while, eventually leads to joy.

Verse 8-9: “break his yoke from your neck” and “they will serve the Lord” —> The yoke was there correctively, not punitively.

Read Jeremiah 30:4-11 and think about the imagery of rehabilitation we find in this passage. 1) What do you see as the practical difference between “punitive punishment” and “rehabilitation”? What evidence or examples do we have in the Bible that God is trying to rehabilitate His creation? 2) Jeremiah prophesied about God’s desire for us to be saved and not just “punished”. How have you seen or experienced God trying to guide you towards rehabilitation (“saving”) in your own life?

Faithfulness to Covenant, New and Old (Jer 31:1-34)

Throughout the Book of Comfort, we see the return of this phrase used across the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 30:21–22 CSB

21 Jacob’s leader will be one of them; his ruler will issue from him. I will invite him to me, and he will approach me, for who would otherwise risk his life to approach me? This is the Lord’s declaration. 22 You will be my people, and I will be your God.

Jeremiah 31:1 CSB

1 “At that time”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

Jeremiah 31:33–34 CSB

33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them” —this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.

Jeremiah 32:37–38 CSB

37 I will certainly gather them from all the lands where I have banished them in my anger, fury and intense wrath, and I will return them to this place and make them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Theme of Covenant = Belonging

Recall the framing of disobedience in terms of faithfulness in marriage.

Also recall the frequent references to God’s people worshipping other Gods.

“Be your God” —> A direct response to DISTRACTED HEARTS.

Not about obedience to rituals or rule books.

Relationship and Heart rather than Legalism and Conformity.

Read Jeremiah 30:21-22, 31:1, 31:33-34, 32:37-38 and listen to the phrase repeated four times. God clearly desires a relationship with us, not just blind obedience. 1) What does a life devoted to a relationship with God look like? More importantly, what does it NOT look like? 2) How can a life dedicated to “obedience” rather than a relationship lead an individual (or enable them) to pursue un-Godly things?

Promise of Restoration (Jer 31:35-33:26)

We are also introduced to themes of everlasting hope in these sections in the form of (1) Restoration of Israel and (2) Coming of a Messiah.

Jeremiah 33:12–13 CSB

12 “This is what the Lord of Armies says: In this desolate place—without people or animals—and in all its cities there will once more be a grazing land where shepherds may rest flocks. 13 The flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them in the cities of the hill country, the cities of the Judean foothills, the cities of the Negev, the land of Benjamin—the areas around Jerusalem and in Judah’s cities, says the Lord.

Restoration of the “state”

Geographic references directly call to Israel and Judah.

Flocks speak to economy and cities speak to governance.

But there’s something more...

Jeremiah 33:14–18 CSB

14 “Look, the days are coming”— this is the Lord’s declaration— “when I will fulfill the good promise that I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a Righteous Branch to sprout up for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is what she will be named: The Lord Is Our Righteousness. 17 “For this is what the Lord says: David will never fail to have a man sitting on the throne of the house of Israel. 18 The Levitical priests will never fail to have a man always before me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices.”

Christ is the fulfillment

Temple Destruction to Temple Restoration —> sons of David on the throne until Christ eternal

Verse 16, “The Lord is Our Righteousness” refers to the city using messianic terms, morphing the “civic” into something divine

Read Jeremiah 33:14-18 and think about how this prophecy connects God’s promise with His chosen people with Christ (“a Righteous Branch”). 1) What are ways you see Christ in the language and imagery of this section? 2) Go back to discussion of rehabilitation earlier in the lesson. What connections can we make between God desiring to rehabilitate His relationship with creation, and what Christ did on the cross? To put it another way, how does Christ provide us with “the ultimate rehabilitation”?

It is fitting that we end the “Book of Comfort” with mention of Christ.

Christ is the fulfillment of old covenant and the marker of the new.

Many of our journey’s with Christ’s covenant involve the same phases we see in Israel: promise, disobedience, correction, and restoration.

My question for you: What phase are you in? Are you relishing in the glory of restoration? Still understanding the promise? In a time of disobedience or maybe going through a period of correction?

The testimony of those who have come before reveals that God’s faithfulness and goodness are present no matter where we find ourselves today.

For this reason, we should make sure we are studying, praying, and meditating on God every day so that we can discern where God is in our circumstances.

In this way, we can ensure that we are truly living as God’s people with the knowledge, peace, and promise that He is our God.