Introduction

God promises to restore the people of Israel after he has punished them in captivity.

Verses
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2“The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.
3For, behold, the days come,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’ ”
4These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5For the LORD says:
“We have heard a voice of trembling;
a voice of fear, and not of peace.
6Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child.
Why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail,
and all faces are turned pale?
7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it.
It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble;
but he will be saved out of it.
8It will come to pass in that day, says the LORD of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck,
and will burst your bonds.
Strangers will no more make them their bondservants;
9but they will serve the LORD their God,
and David their king,
whom I will raise up to them.
10Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD.
Don’t be dismayed, Israel.
For, behold, I will save you from afar,
and save your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob will return,
and will be quiet and at ease.
No one will make him afraid.
11For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you;
for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you,
but I will not make a full end of you;
but I will correct you in measure,
and will in no way leave you unpunished.”
12For the LORD says,
“Your hurt is incurable.
Your wound is grievous.
13There is no one to plead your cause,
that you may be bound up.
You have no healing medicines.
14All your lovers have forgotten you.
They don’t seek you.
For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,
with the chastisement of a cruel one,
for the greatness of your iniquity,
because your sins were increased.
15Why do you cry over your injury?
Your pain is incurable.
For the greatness of your iniquity,
because your sins have increased,
I have done these things to you.
16Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured.
All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity.
Those who plunder you will be plunder.
I will make all who prey on you become prey.
17For I will restore health to you,
and I will heal you of your wounds,” says the LORD;
“because they have called you an outcast,
saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.’ ”
18The LORD says:
“Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents,
and have compassion on his dwelling places.
The city will be built on its own hill,
and the palace will be inhabited in its own place.
19Thanksgiving will proceed out of them
with the voice of those who make merry.
I will multiply them,
and they will not be few;
I will also glorify them,
and they will not be small.
20Their children also will be as before,
and their congregation will be established before me.
I will punish all who oppress them.
21Their prince will be one of them,
and their ruler will proceed from amongst them.
I will cause him to draw near,
and he will approach me;
for who is he who has had boldness to approach me?” says the LORD.
22“You shall be my people,
and I will be your God.
23Behold, the LORD’s storm, his wrath, has gone out,
a sweeping storm:
it will burst on the head of the wicked.
24The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until he has accomplished,
and until he has performed the intentions of his heart.
In the latter days you will understand it.”

Questions

1. What does the LORD say he will do in days to come?

v 3 For, behold, the days come,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’ ”

2. What does the LORD say he will do, so that Israel needn't be afraid or dismayed?

v 10 and 11 Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD.
Don’t be dismayed, Israel.
For, behold, I will save you from afar,
and save your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob will return,
and will be quiet and at ease.
No one will make him afraid.
11 For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you;
for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you,
but I will not make a full end of you;
but I will correct you in measure,
and will in no way leave you unpunished.

3. What does the LORD say will happen to those who devour Israel and are their adversaries?

v 16 Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured.
All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity.
Those who plunder you will be plunder.
I will make all who prey on you become prey.

Summary Points

  • v 1 and 2 God tells Jeremiah to write down all his words in a book
  • v 3 to 7 There will be a time of trouble for Israel and Judah but they will be saved out of it
  • v 8 and 9 They will no longer serve strangers but they will serve the LORD their God and his king
  • v 10 to 15 God will bring Israel from captivity but meanwhile they are being punished for their sins

  • v 16 to 24 Israel's adversaries will suffer but Israel will return from captivity and again be established in their land as God’s special people

    Timeline 570 BC

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