The Restoration of Israel

Introduction: I will never forget sitting in pulpit speech class one afternoon in college. We had been working on our sermon projects for several weeks, and that day was presentation day. Thankfully for me, I was not delivering my sermon that day. Instead, one of my classmates was called on to give his. He confidently stood and approached the front of the room, where he passionately delivered a very well-thought-out sermon, and let me tell you, he let it rip! That sermon followed the preaching pattern many refer to as "a hellfire and brimstone" message. Some would say they've had nightmares of going to church and hearing such preaching.

And I will never forget what happened next. Once he finished, our professor turned to the class and asked, "Now that you have heard that message - what now? How do you all feel?"

Pretty much every person's response was the same. "I feel bad, but I don't know what to do about it."

"Exactly," our professor said, "that was an excellent sermon portraying sin and sin's consequences, but you left us with no hope. While it is true that God will by no means clear the guilty, He is also a God who is merciful, gracious, and longsuffering. Be sure to always resolve your sermons with God's answer to the problem of sin."

And as we come to our study in Jeremiah 30, this is the moment in Jeremiah's message where he is finally giving hope to the people of Judah. And so, after weeks of studying Jeremiah's message of condemnation toward Judah's wickedness and the impending doom of the Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah finally speaks to them of their future restoration.

Jeremiah 30-33 was written during the final days of the siege on Jerusalem; Jeremiah was in prison, and the people were about to be carried away into captivity. Yet, this is when Jeremiah's message changed in tone because he foresaw a day in the distant future when the nation would be restored to the land. They would receive the new covenant of redemption and be ruled by the perfect Davidic king over purified Zion.

The command from the Lord to write in a book marks the beginning of the book of restoration (chpts. 30-33).

Delivered from Jacob's Trouble (30:4-11)The Healing of Zion's Wounds (30:12-22)Judgment on the Wicked (30:23-31:1)

Saved from Jacob's Trouble (30:4-11)

Read Jeremiah 30:4-11

Throughout the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah speaks of two major future events, and he refers to them both as a coming "day." The first "day" Jeremiah refers to is when Judah would be conquered and carried away into the Babylonian captivity. In contrast, the second "day" refers to the day of restoration when God will bring back both the nations of Israel and Judah into a new relationship with Him.

As in all prophetic writings, we must be aware of the principle of "foreshortening." Although Jeremiah saw these events as a continuous stream, we understand that these events will be fulfilled over a long period of time. (For example, this same principle applies when we see mention of the ruling and suffering Messiah in Isaiah).

Jeremiah says that this coming day of restoration will be preceded by a period of unimaginable national distress. This day will be so stressful that Jeremiah asks, "Have you ever seen a man in labor with a child? So, why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale?" Of course not, but the trouble of that time will be so great that men will appear as pained as women during childbirth. It will be so bad that verse 7 says that there is no day like it.

And although this all seems like bad news, verses 8-9 tell us that God will use that terrible time to deal with the wicked Gentile nations and restore Israel's faith in the Messiah. We refer to this time of trouble as the tribulation period, and its purpose is to call the nation of Israel to repent and turn to Christ. It is through the trial of the tribulation that God will heal the nation of Israel.

The Healing of Zion's Wounds (30:12-22)

Read Jeremiah 30:12-22

Verses 12-16 make very clear that the sins of Judah and Israel were inexcusable, and their fall to Babylon was deserved and unavoidable. They were about to be forsaken by all of their allies (lovers). Although God had repeatedly chastised and corrected them, they refused to repent of their sins, and so their judgment was well deserved. "So stop crying about it," God says, "your punishment is well deserved." (v. 15)

However, verse 17 points out that although there is no excuse or remedy they can make for themselves, God will heal them and plunder their enemies one day. There is no medicine they can apply or argument they can make. Still, God will spare them because He is gracious, merciful, and longsuffering.

And just 18 days before Jerusalem fell to Babylon, God told them in verses 18-22 that he would restore Zion (Jerusalem) one day. They would once again sing songs of thanksgiving, God would multiply their children, and deal swift justice to their enemies. Not because of how good the nation of Israel is, but because God is merciful and gracious.

And finally, in verses 23-24, God will ultimately judge the wicked on that final day.

The Devouring of the Wicked (30:23-31:1)

Read Jeremiah 30:23-24

After God mercifully saves Israel, His wrath will fall on the wicked nations of this world. Just as Babylon mowed over Jerusalem, God's justice will mow over the kingdoms of this world. On that day, He will establish an everlasting kingdom where according to 31:1, He will be the God of the families of Israel, and they shall be His people.

Conclusion: Now, we know that all of this is explicitly directed to the people of Israel. More specifically, the people of Judah right before their fall to Babylon. So, what does it have to do with you and me in the United States in 2021? Well, let's take a moment to compare this passage to Romans 11:19-22, which says, "You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off."

The message to the people of Judah in Jeremiah is that they must face their well-deserved punishment because of their lack of faith and inexcusable sin. However, the wrath of God against sin will not stop with Judah's chastisement but will extend to all the kingdoms of men who are not joined to Christ by faith. Let us be careful then, as Paul instructs, to consider the genuineness of our own faith. If God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare the grafted branches who do not continue by faith in Christ.