The Coming Messiah

This is the final chapter in what is called the Book of Consolation in Jeremiah. Chapters 30-33 stand in contrast to most of the book because they are filled with so much hope. This hope springs from the coming Messiah who is spoken of in verses 14-16. The chapter begins dimly but brightens as it continues.

1. The Lord speaks to Jeremiah again (1-3).

Jeremiah is still being detained in the courtyard at this time. The setting is the same as we saw in chapter 32. Jerusalem is about to finally and completely fall. The Lord commands Jeremiah to call on Him. God promises to tell Him new things if he does. This shows us that the Lord did not circumvent a relationship with His prophets to speak to them. God’s men were not in some mystical state overtaken by God and filled with information. Jeremiah was to seek the Lord in prayer and the Lord would speak to him.

We should not think that we can call on God for some new knowledge to be revealed to us. Jeremiah was a prophet who lived in a day in which revelation was still being given. We have the Bible. The Bible is complete. There is no new revelation. However, we should pray to the Lord and ask Him to reveal Himself to us through His written Word. We should not expect to understand the Bible if we do not have a relationship with the Creator of the world. When we know Christ we can understand the Word and we can live it as well.

2. The Lord tells Jeremiah the city will fall (4-5).

Things are going to get worse before they get better. In verse 4 we see a strategy used by Judah to try and keep the Babylonians out of the city. They tore down some of the royal houses and the houses in the city for the purpose of holding up the walls around Jerusalem. We can imagine the people trying to reinforce or patch the walls with materials stripped from homes. This shows how desperate the people were. Ironically, the people were destroying their own city in hopes that their city would not be destroyed. Their attempts were futile. The city was going to fall.

Despite their valiant effort the city would be filled with dead bodies of the Jewish people. The reasoning is that it is the Lord who is doing this. We see that in verse 5. This is another example of the Jewish people suffering needlessly. Jeremiah had already told them to submit to the Babylonians. If they had listened fewer people would have died.

3. There is hope (6-9).

The One who wounded the city will heal it. Let’s look at all the promises the Lord gives the people.

I will heal the people.

I will give them abundance and prosperity.

I will restore the nation.

I will cleanse them from their sin and rebellion.

I will make this city a city of joy.

I will make the nations fear the Lord through what I do in this city.

This appears to me to be a prophecy of the millennial kingdom. The means by which God sets up this kingdom is the forgiveness of sin through Christ. During the millennium Christ will rule the earth from Jerusalem. It will be a time like no other in history, only to be eclipsed by the new heavens and earth. This hope is not just for the Jews. It is for all who trust Christ.

4. The Temple will be restored (10-11).

After the devastation of Babylon one could not imagine the city would be rebuilt. It would be without people or animals in it. But God promises that the city would once again be filled with joy. People would be married again in the city. This implies that future generations will be in the city. Offerings would be brought to the house of the Lord again.

The restoration of the Temple was symbolic of health for the city. With the Temple they could expect the blessing of God. The song mentioned in verse 11 is one that is found in many places in the Bible (Psalm 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118; 136).

After 70 years in Babylon the Jews would return to a devastated city. However, the people would unite and build back the city. Even the Temple itself would be restored. The books of Nehemiah and Ezra document this fulfillment of prophecy.

5. The Shepherds will be restored (12-13).

Even the surrounding cities and countryside of Jerusalem would be restored. Once again shepherds would keep flocks. This symbolizes a return to normal. The city that would be without man or beast would again have both man and beast. Farming would return. All of the cities are mentioned to show that the restoration stretches out among the cities around Jerusalem. The end of verse 13 shows the work of a shepherd. He counts his sheep one by one as they enter the fold. Family, faith, and farming would be restored to the city.

6. The Coming Messiah (14-22).

The Messiah Himself (16-18). These are beautiful prophecies concerning Christ. I want to point some things out to you from the text concerning the promise of the Messiah.

The promises to the Jewish people are fulfilled in Christ. We see that in verse 14-15. There are those who believe the Jewish people are God’s chosen people without condition. The idea that anyone, even Jewish people, can be saved outside of Christ is contrary to Scripture. Christ Himself warned the Jewish people that if they did not believe in Him they would be condemned (John 3:16). The fact is there is no religion, not even Judaism that can lead a person to heaven outside of Jesus Christ. What God is doing in this world He is doing through Jesus.

The Messiah will come from the lineage of David (15). Both David and Jesus were from the tribe of Judah. Joseph, Mary’s husband, was of the lineage of Judah and as Jesus adoptive father that made Jesus of the tribe of Judah. The branch springing forth symbolizes a chi8ld being born. Interestingly Jesus is also called the root of David (Rev. 22:16). How could the Messiah be the root and the offspring of David? The only way would be for the Messiah to be eternal. As the eternal God Jesus Christ was both the root and branch of David.

The Messiah will execute justice and righteousness in the land (15-16). This implies He will have the power to do so. When Christ returns, He is wielding a sword by which He brings judgment on the enemies of justice and righteousness (Rev. 19:11). He will save Judah and set up the holy city of Jerusalem as a secure place. Such a transformation will happen to the city that it will be called “The Lord is our Righteousness”. This is the same name given to the Messiah in 23:6. The city will be a reflection of the righteous character of the Messiah. Heaven itself is called the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21). The holy city of heaven is a reflection of the Holy God who rules over it.

The Messiah will be both an eternal King and an eternal Priest (17-18). The text says that there will be a permanent descendant of David on the throne. Some may think the Word of God has failed us. They might point to the fact that the Jews do not have a King at all. How can this prophecy be true? It is true because it is fulfilled in Christ. Christ is on the throne right now.

Critics may also point to the idea that the Jews no longer have the priestly system. They might say there is not even a Temple much less a priesthood. How can we say that Israel will never lack a priesthood? Again, this is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is the High Priest who is seated in heaven interceding for His own (Hebrews 4:14). The priesthood was fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 10). The offerings mentioned in verse 18 are symbolic as we know there is no need for a sacrifice after Christ.

It's also important to note that Christ is both King and Priest. He is different than any other earthly King Israel had known. He is a King after the order of Melchizedek who was both King and Priest (Genesis 14:18).

The covenant cannot be broken (19-22). Israel will have a King and a priest. This is as certain as day and night. Notice the huge amount of people the King will reign over. His people will be as the numbers of grains of sand on the seashore and the stars in the heaven. This reminds us of the language used when God gave His promises to Abraham (Genesis 15:5).

What about the language used concerning the priests? I think it can only be fulfilled when we understand what the New Testament says about believers. The Bible says believers make up a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Beginning with Abraham God promised to make Himself a people whom He would bless. In Christ we see all the promises of God confirmed.

God will silence the enemies of Israel (22-26). After seeing what God did to the Northern and Southern Kingdoms it is no surprise people would believe the nation had been eternally cast away. The watching nations hated Israel. They wished the worst for them. God would not break His promises, however. He will indeed choose a Jewish man to rule the nation and through Him He will have mercy on the people and restore them to prosperity. Christ is the chosen man.

In our world we have critics of Christianity.

They criticize our morals

They criticize our beliefs

They criticize our Bible

They criticize our Savior

They criticize our warnings

They criticize our hope

We have the promises of God on our side. The Lord will not allow us to be forsaken. Christ has come and He has given us precious promises. He will not break covenant with us.