Thursday 21 March 2024
And you shall be my people, and I will be your God. (v. 22)
Background
We reflected yesterday on how the restoration that God promises Israel and Judah will resemble an ill person being healed. Today’s poem of restoration takes on a different tone.
When the Babylonians conquered the kingdom of Judah in 587 BC, the kingdom was left in ruins. Although it would be wrong to imagine all the people taken off into exile, the nation was depopulated. Therefore, the restoration of which God speaks, is a restoration of all the elements needed for a nation.
It begins with restoring the dwellings for the people. The mention of tents and cities (v. 18) might point to ancient and more recent styles of settlement. God isn’t showing favouritism to urban or rural communities.
The 'compassion of God' which Jeremiah speaks of, is linked to the Hebrew word for ‘womb’. It may well represent the compassion of God as a mother's care for her unborn baby.
However, it isn’t only the buildings that will be restored. The people will be restored as well, in both number and spirit. Those who have been wailing will now make the sound of merrymaking (v. 19). One can only imagine what that might mean!
We see also the restoration of the worshipping congregation. By the time of the return from exile, much of the generation who left Judah would have died out. Therefore, those returning would have been people who hadn’t seen Jerusalem and the Temple as it was. Unlike so many of the messages that are prevalent today, the vision was not of something new, but rather restoring the congregation to how it had been.
What is interesting to note is that, in this restoration of society, there is no mention of a new king or High Priest. A prince is mentioned who will play a priestly role, coming into God’s presence. The vision of restoration, therefore, wasn’t completely back to how things were, but rather a vision for a nation ruled by someone in close contact with God.
The passage concludes with a reaffirmation of the classic Covenant relationship between God and the people of God which underpins God’s merciful action towards restoration.
To Ponder:
- Do we have to think about our future only as either going back to how things were, or going to something completely new? Is it possible to have a bit of both?
- As you look to the future, in what ways do you hope for a restoration that returns to how things were, and in what ways do you hope for something new?
- How are you praying for our leaders today?
Prayer
Loving God, we pray for the communities we are part of and all who shape them. May we all have a vision for the future that doesn’t forget where we have come from, but is also open to embracing something bigger. Amen.
Bible Study author: the Revd Will Fletcher