Jeremiah 32-33
Dear RTB’ers,
A long reading today, one of our longest of the year, but also with a lot of narrative that makes it easier to read.
Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonians (Chaldeans), just one year before the city actually falls in 586 B.C., yet the Lord tells Jeremiah to buy land in his hometown of Anathoth in Benjamin. The Lord is sending a message through Jeremiah that He will be restoring His people (recall yesterday’s message of restoration!) after they have suffered for their countless misdeeds: For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in My sight from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing but provoke Me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the LORD. (v. 32:30) The Lord will indeed bring His people back: For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all My heart and all My soul. (vv. 32:15, 41) We will be reading more of this restoration in Ezekiel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
Jeremiah continues this message of restoration in the first half of chapter 33, I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. (v. 33:7) But then he moves beyond Judah’s immediate situation with the Babylonians to look far into the future: In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in My presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever. (vv. 33:15, 17b, 18) Jesus is that Righteous Branch; He is that King from David’s line and that Priest whose bodily sacrifice brought eternal salvation, what prior burnt offerings could never do. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David My servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to Me. (v. 33:22)
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, …He entered once for all into the holy places, …thus securing an eternal redemption. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 9:11-12, 10:10) Again, thank you, Jesus.
Blessings.
See also: July 25 (2023) / Jeremiah 32-33.
Hear, hear!