Jeremiah 30:1-31:26
Dear RTB’ers,
Today and the next two days the key word is “restoration” – the Lord restoring the fortunes of both Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah, bringing them back from captivity (exile) and re-settling them back in their own land. What’s unusual here is God’s inclusion of Israel and its restoration. Almost everything that we have read thus far in Jeremiah has been about Jerusalem and Judah (along with some chastisement for Babylon and for Judah’s neighbors). But Jeremiah 30 is written to both Israel and Judah. (Note especially the mention of both in Jer. 30:3, 4, 10.) Then the first twenty or so verses in Jeremiah 31 are devoted entirely to Israel. It’s comforting to know that God never forgets His people, no matter where they are or how difficult their misfortunes.
Thus says the LORD: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” (v. 31:15) Many of us recognize this verse, quoted in Matthew 2:18, reflecting Herod’s decision in Matthew 2:16-17 to kill all the infant boys in Bethlehem. In the immediate context, however, the Lord is still referring to Israel. Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, and Joseph was the father of Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the leading tribes in Israel. So the mention of Rachel weeping for her children was probably referring to Israel being taken into captivity by Assyria in 722 B.C. In the next verse, however, the Lord returns to Israel’s restoration: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. (v. 31:16)
Today’s last verse surprised me: At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me. (v. 31:26) And a blessed Good Morning to all of you!
Blessings.
See also: July 24 (2023) / Jeremiah 37; 30-31.