CHAPTER 30 Aug. 9
God Will Rescue Israel and Judah
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2Thus speaks Yahweh, the God of Israel saying, Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 3For, behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will turn again the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, says Yahweh; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. 4These are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5For thus says Yahweh: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6Ask now, and see whether a man does travail with child: why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8It shall come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bond servant; 9but they shall serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them. 10Therefore don’t you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh; neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. 11For I am with you, says Yahweh, 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.
God Will Heal His People
12For thus says Yahweh, Your hurt is incurable, and your wound grievous. 13There is none 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 for your hurt? Your pain is incurable: for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you. 16Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, each one of them, shall go into captivity; and those who despoil you shall be a spoil, and all who prey on you will I give for a prey. 17For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh; because they have called you an outcast, saying, It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.
Restored to Be God's People
18Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places; and the city shall be built again on its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited in its own former way. 19Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. 20Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before Me; and I will punish all who oppress them. 21Their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from their midst; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach to Me: for who is he who has had boldness to approach to Me? says Yahweh. 22You shall be My people, and I will be your God. 23Behold, the storm of Yahweh, His wrath, has gone forth, a sweeping storm: it shall burst on the head of the wicked. 24The fierce anger of Yahweh will not return, until He has executed, and until He has performed the intentions of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it.
Commentary
30:7 That day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble- Dan. 12:1 says the same thing in the same language, but says that the ultimate salvation of Israel will be in the appearance of Christ and the resurrection from the dead (Dan. 12:2,3). The Babylonian invasion was known as the time of Israel’s trouble (2:28; 8:15; 11:12; Neh. 9:32). There was the possibility that the Babylonian invasion and capture of Jerusalem was the time of trouble which would lead to Israel’s final salvation in the coming of their Messiah; but instead they chose to believe their false prophets and refused to repent. So the whole possible scenario didn’t come true then, and was reapplied to a latter day invasion of Israel, the taking of Jerusalem, Israel’s repentance, hearing the words of the true prophets, the return of Christ, the resurrection and the establishment of God’s Kingdom. That scenario could now come true at any moment.
30:17 I will restore health to you- Although their wound was humanly incurable (:12,15). God really can do the impossible, and impossible thing we struggle with is that sinners condemned to suffering and death can really be saved from that and given eternal life.
Zion, whom no man seeks after- The attitude of others to us God’s people is so painful for Him. He desperately seeks His people, and for others to consider we are down and out, not wanted by anyone, provokes Him to action. Even though His people were so sinful, the fact others mocked them was significant to God. This colossal sensitivity of God is an encouragement to us who can feel at times that we are insignificant and ultimately, existentially alone.
30:18 We see here the theme of God’s Kingdom actually being a re-establishment of the entity which once was on earth (Ez. 21:25-57; Acts 1:6). See too :20 “as before”.