The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:1–22)

The main theme of this chapter is that a restored and reunited Israel would enjoy a new covenant relationship with God. The people would be spiritually as well as physically restored. The theme is expressed in the first verse, which serves as an introduction to the chapter. Verses 2–22 speak of the future of the Northern Kingdom. Verses 23–26 anticipate the Southern Kingdom’s restoration. Verses 27–40 describe coming days of blessing for both Israel and Judah.

I. The Rebuilding of Israel (31:1–6)

1 “At the same time,” says the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” 2 Thus says the LORD: “The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness—Israel, when I went to give him rest.” 3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. 4 Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice. 5 You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria; The planters shall plant and eat them as ordinary food. 6 For there shall be a day When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To the LORD our God.’ ”

A. United people

Because of the sins of Solomon and the foolishness of his son Rehoboam, the Jewish nation divided and became Israel and Judah, the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. But in the last days, the Lord will gather His people, unite them, and be “the God of all the families of Israel”.

“At the same time” indicates some period in the future, in this case a time of salvation, and this future of salvation will include the unity of Israel. The division of the kingdom was far from ideal.

B. The motivation for God’s future restoration of the nation is His everlasting love.

Jeremiah drew three word-pictures that will characterize God’s restoration of Israel. First, it will be a time of renewed joy. Israel will once again take up her tambourines and dance with the joyful. The times of sadness will cease when the Captivity ends. Second, it will be a time of peace and prosperity as the people plant their vineyards on the hills of Samaria. Free from external threats, they will be able to enjoy their fruit.

Third, it will be a time of renewed commitment to the Lord. The watchmen stationed on the hills of Ephraim will summon the people to go up to Zion to worship the LORD.

II. Return of the Scattered People (31:7–14)

7 For thus says the LORD: “Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!’ 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there. 9 They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them.I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn. 10 “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’ 11 For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he. 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the LORD For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden,And they shall sorrow no more at all. 13 “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD.”

A. God’s restoration will be accompanied by songs of joy and the praises of the people for His deliverance.

No one will be too far away for the LORD to restore them; God will gather His people from the ends of the earth. Also no one will be too insignificant for the Lord to deliver them; God will restore the blind and the lame along with expectant mothers.

As God leads these people on their new Exodus into Israel He will provide for their every need. He will guide the people beside streams of water and they will travel on a level path so they will not stumble. God will do all this because of His special relationship to Israel. He is Israel’s father, and Ephraim is his firstborn son. Jeremiah used the image of a father/son relationship to show God’s deep love for His people.

B. Israel’s regathering will be accompanied by a renewal of God’s material blessings.

Those who will be restored to the land will rejoice in the bounty of crops and flocks.

Jeremiah compared Israel’s material wealth to a well-watered garden that was producing in abundance. This outpouring of blessing will produce gladness comfort, and joy.

III. The End of Rachel’s Weeping for Her Children (31:15–22)

15 Thus says the LORD: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.” 16 Thus says the LORD: “Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD,And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope in your future, says the LORD, That your children shall come back to their own border. 18 “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, For You are the LORD my God. 19 Surely, after my turning, I repented; And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’ 20 Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child?For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD. 21 “Set up signposts, Make landmarks; Set your heart toward the highway, The way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, Turn back to these your cities. 22 How long will you gad about, O you backsliding daughter?For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth—A woman shall encompass a man.”

A. The nation’s future hope will contrast sharply with her present misery.

The cry from Ramah was one of mourning and great weeping as Jeremiah pictured Rachel weeping for her children. To what was Jeremiah referring? Ramah was a town five miles north of Jerusalem, and Rachel was Joseph and Benjamin’s mother. Joseph was the father of Ephraim and Manasseh, who became the two major tribes in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Jeremiah was picturing the weeping of the women of the Northern Kingdom as they watched their children being carried into exile in 722 B.C. However, Jeremiah could also have had the 586 B.C. deportation of Judah in view because Ramah was the staging point for Nebuchadnezzar’s deportation. In all likelihood these women were crying because they would never see their children again. But as the women of Israel and Judah wept for their exiled children, God offered a word of comfort. There was hope for their future because their children would return to their own land. God would bring about a restoration.

B. God called on the captives to set up road signs and guideposts as they traveled to Babylon and to remember the road they would take.

They would need this information during His promised restoration so they could return to their towns. This time of promised restoration will be so remarkable that it will be as if God will create a new thing on earth.

That new event is described proverbially by the clause, a woman will surround a man. This is probably the most difficult verse to understand in the Book of Jeremiah. One possible idea is that a woman will seek, or court, a man (NIV marg.). In that culture a woman would not normally court a man, so this would indicate something unusual. The woman here is Israel (v. 21). She had been unfaithful, but in the future she will finally seek out her God and ask to be united with Him.