August 17 - Jeremiah 31,32
These two chapters reveal the love of God and the faithfulness of God in a wonderful way. I pray that they spoke to your heart as you read them. God wants all of us to experience His love and faithfulness each day.
Jeremiah 31 expresses God's desire to have a close relationship with Israel. (v.1) He loves them with an everlasting love, and he treats them with lovingkindness. (v.3) He is having to punish their sins, but that does not diminish His love. He will bring them back from their exile and restore them in the holy land. (v.8) He was waiting for them to cry out to Him in prayer, and once He heard their sincere prayers, He restored them. (v.9,18) He restored their souls like a well-watered garden. (v.12b) Then, God tells us about His plans to create a new covenant to replace the old covenant with Israel. It will be a personal covenant between God and each individual, and He will write His laws on the hearts of those who trust Him. (v.31-34) This is a picture of how God wants to have a close personal relationship with each of us. That is why He sent Jesus to establish this new covenant in His blood. Finally, God promises that this new covenant will never pass away like the old covenant was going to pass away. (v.36) This shows us God's heart for us. He is truly a Loving Father.
Jeremiah 32 is an example of God's faithfulness. He tells Jeremiah to buy a field in the middle of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. This was to show that God would restore the people to the land after a time of exile. It showed them through the faith of Jeremiah to purchase this field at God's leading. Jeremiah did not fully understand what God was doing, but He trusted Him. Then, God reassured Jeremiah that He would fulfill His promise. Is your life a picture to others of faith in God? Do they see your faith through your actions? That is how it should be with each of us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 33-35.
Jeremiah 31 expresses God's desire to have a close relationship with Israel. (v.1) He loves them with an everlasting love, and he treats them with lovingkindness. (v.3) He is having to punish their sins, but that does not diminish His love. He will bring them back from their exile and restore them in the holy land. (v.8) He was waiting for them to cry out to Him in prayer, and once He heard their sincere prayers, He restored them. (v.9,18) He restored their souls like a well-watered garden. (v.12b) Then, God tells us about His plans to create a new covenant to replace the old covenant with Israel. It will be a personal covenant between God and each individual, and He will write His laws on the hearts of those who trust Him. (v.31-34) This is a picture of how God wants to have a close personal relationship with each of us. That is why He sent Jesus to establish this new covenant in His blood. Finally, God promises that this new covenant will never pass away like the old covenant was going to pass away. (v.36) This shows us God's heart for us. He is truly a Loving Father.
Jeremiah 32 is an example of God's faithfulness. He tells Jeremiah to buy a field in the middle of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. This was to show that God would restore the people to the land after a time of exile. It showed them through the faith of Jeremiah to purchase this field at God's leading. Jeremiah did not fully understand what God was doing, but He trusted Him. Then, God reassured Jeremiah that He would fulfill His promise. Is your life a picture to others of faith in God? Do they see your faith through your actions? That is how it should be with each of us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 33-35.