Introduction

Many scholars believe that this chapter was written in the tenth year of the reign of Zedekiah, which places it at about 587 B.C. just before the collapse of the city and the temple. The next four chapters speak of the many glorious prophesies for Israel.

RESTORATION OF ISRAEL

‘The LORD spoke to Jeremiah. ‘The LORD God of Israel says, ‘Write everything that I am about to tell you in a scroll. For I, the LORD, affirm that the time will come when I will reverse the plight of my people, Israel, and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘I will bring them back to the land I gave their ancestors and they will take possession of it once again.’ Jeremiah 30:1-3

This chapter talks about the restoration and return of the remnant as promised by God. The present situation that they find themselves in will pass. And God tells Jeremiah that these promises are to be recorded and written down in a book what God has said, Jeremiah 30:1-2. This clearly indicates that all the prophecies given through Jeremiah were to be carefully preserved, by writing them down. How else do we expect to have such a book, after all of these years? The very existence of the book is proof that God commanded him to do these things.

So, why does God tell him to do this? It wasn’t that God needed to be reminded but the people certainly did. It relates to Judah and Israel and their return to the land, Jeremiah 30:3. Later the words will be read by the people, Jeremiah 36:2, as we saw Daniel reading the words of Jeremiah when we looked at Jeremiah 29. We must note that God is promising full restoration of His people from all over the earth just as Moses had proclaimed in Deuteronomy 30:1-6.

Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Jeremiah 30:3.

‘Israel, the ten tribes, led captive by the king of Assyria, and dispersed among the nations. And Judah, the people carried into Babylon at two different times, first, under Jeconiah, and, secondly, under Zedekiah, by Nebuchadnezzar.’

‘So here is what the LORD has to say about Israel and Judah. Yes, here is what he says: ‘You hear cries of panic and of terror; there is no peace in sight. Ask yourselves this and consider it carefully: Have you ever seen a man give birth to a baby? Why then do I see all these strong men grabbing their stomachs in pain like a woman giving birth? And why do their faces turn so deathly pale? Alas, what a terrible time of trouble it is! There has never been any like it. It is a time of trouble for the descendants of Jacob, but some of them will be rescued out of it. When the time for them to be rescued comes,’ says the LORD who rules over all, ‘I will rescue you from foreign subjugation. I will deliver you from captivity. Foreigners will then no longer subjugate them.’ But they will be subject to the LORD their God and to the Davidic ruler whom I will raise up as king over them. So, I, the LORD, tell you not to be afraid, you descendants of Jacob, my servants. Do not be terrified, people of Israel. For I will rescue you and your descendants from a faraway land where you are captives. The descendants of Jacob will return to their land and enjoy peace. They will be secure and no one will terrify them.’ Jeremiah 30:4-10

Israel and Judah were not to be afraid when cries of fear are heard, terror, not peace, Jeremiah 30:4-5. They were to ask and see if a man can bear a child, if so, then why does God see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labour and every face turned deathly pale? Jeremiah 30:6. God says how awful that day will be and there will be no other day like it and it will be a time of trouble for Jacob but he will be saved out of it, Jeremiah 30:7 / Isaiah 13:6-8. Some commentators suggest that the ‘day’ mentioned here, is speaking about the judgment day.

They were not to be afraid because God says that they will be saved, Jeremiah 30:7. This will not be anything to do with the people, this will be done by God. Babylon will be too strong for the people but He will save them, Jeremiah 30:7.

Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Jeremiah 30:7.

‘When the Medes and Persians with all their forces shall come on the Chaldeans, it will be the day of Jacob’s trouble-trial, dismay, and uncertainty but he shall be delivered out of it-the Chaldean empire shall fall, but the Jews shall be delivered by Cyrus. Jerusalem shall be destroyed by the Romans, but the Israel of God shall be delivered from its ruin. Not one that had embraced Christianity perished in the sackage of that city.’

The yoke will be taken away, Jeremiah 30:8, and they will go from favour to favour. God says, He will raise up for them David their king, Jeremiah 30:9. This passage looks beyond the return of the Jews to the land, it looks to a time in the latter days when the returned people would serve David as their king, Isaiah 55:3-4 / Ezekiel 34:23-24 / Ezekiel 37:24-25 / Hosea 3:5. The reference is clearly Messianic, for Jesus would be the descendant of David who would sit upon the throne of the Lord in heaven, Daniel 7:13-14 / Acts 2:21-30.

Is David coming alive again? Of course not. God is saying that He will set His people free by sending the Christ, the righteous Branch of David, who will rule in righteousness.

Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.

‘Caesar was the name of one of the Roman emperors but this became a title for other emperors that followed him. The same thing happened with David. As you know, David was one of the kings of Israel and in time, it became a title for the Messiah. Matthew 1:1, refers to Jesus Christ as the ‘Son of David.’

God says He will give them safety and they will return to live in peace and nobody will make them afraid, Jeremiah 30:10. The beginning of God’s defence for His people began when He allowed the Medo-Persians to overthrow the Babylonians, which event took place in 539 B.C. The Medo-Persians then allowed all former captives to return to their homelands, which homelands were at the time under the control of the Medo-Persian Empire.

Those nations that took Israel into captivity, the Assyrians, and Babylonians, would cease to exist. However, Israel would continue because of the preserving work of God to carry out His purpose for the existence of Israel, Jeremiah 46:27-28.

‘For I, the LORD, affirm that I will be with you and will rescue you. I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you. But I will not completely destroy you. I will indeed discipline you, but only in due measure. I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished. Moreover, the LORD says to the people of Zion, ‘Your injuries are incurable; your wounds are severe. There is no one to plead your cause. There are no remedies for your wounds. There is no healing for you. All your allies have abandoned you. They no longer have any concern for you. For I have attacked you like an enemy would. I have chastened you cruelly. For your wickedness is so great and your sin is so much. Why do you complain about your injuries, that your pain is incurable? I have done all this to you because your wickedness is so great, and your sin is so much. But all who destroyed you will be destroyed. All your enemies will go into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered. I will cause those who pillaged you to be pillaged. Yes, I will restore you to health. I will heal your wounds. I, the LORD, affirm it! For you have been called an outcast, Zion, whom no one cares for.’ Jeremiah 30:11-17

God says remember, I am with you and will save you, Jeremiah 30:11. This can be broken down into a good sermon.

1. I AM.

The Creator element is there, Exodus 3:14 / John 5:58.

2. With you.

The element of companionship, Matthew 28:20 / Galatians 2:20.

3. Save you.

Think of the word ‘you’, 1 John 4:4 / Hebrews 7:35. We think of ‘once being condemned’, 1 Timothy 1:15 / 1 John 2:1-2 / Matthew 24:35.

We see that the return of the remnant doesn’t rule out correction, Jeremiah 30:11. Realise your current situation. It would be easy in the face of discipline, for correction to take the easy way out. But they are reminded that they have no other good way to go.

1. First of all, your medicine has all gone, Jeremiah 30:12-13.

God alone has the cure for sin, Isaiah 53:5 / Luke 4:23 / Mark 6:5 / 1 Peter 2:24.

2. Memory has gone, Jeremiah 30:14.

All of her allies, some versions say, ‘lovers’, have forgotten her, Jeremiah 30:14. The ‘lovers’ or ‘allies’, were the nations that surrounded them. God’s people had relied on them to help them against the Babylonians. They wanted nothing to do with Israel and Judah and crying will not help anybody, Jeremiah 30:15, and those who spoil will be spoiled, Jeremiah 30:16.

Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Jeremiah 30:16.

‘The Assyrians were destroyed by the Babylonians; the Babylonians, by the Medes and Persians, the Egyptians and Persians were destroyed by the Greeks, under Alexander. All these nations are now extinct but the Jews, as a distinct people, still exist.’

God says, He will heal them, Jeremiah 30:17, in other words, He will restore their health, Psalm 103:3 / Psalm 147:3 / Matthew 4:23-24. The Hebrew word for ‘heal’ suggests one or two things.

1. It gives the idea of simply bandaging up a wound.

2. It also gives the idea of stitching the wound up, so it suggests a ‘scar’.

The Hebrew word used here Jeremiah 30:17, is to show the skin growing over. The picture is therefore clear, there is not going to be a scar, God had beaten them and even the nations around them wanted nothing to do with them, God does.

‘The LORD says, ‘I will restore the ruined houses of the descendants of Jacob. I will show compassion on their ruined homes. Every city will be rebuilt on its former ruins. Every fortified dwelling will occupy its traditional site. Out of those places you will hear songs of thanksgiving and the sounds of laughter and merriment. I will increase their number and they will not dwindle away. I will bring them honour and they will no longer be despised. The descendants of Jacob will enjoy their former privileges. Their community will be re-established in my favour and I will punish all who try to oppress them. One of their own people will be their leader. Their ruler will come from their own number. I will invite him to approach me, and he will do so. For no one would dare approach me on his own. I, the LORD, affirm it! Then you will again be my people and I will be your God. Just watch! The wrath of the LORD will come like a storm. Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has fully carried out his intended purposes. In days to come you will come to understand this.’ Jeremiah 30:18-24

All types of lovely promises are given here and the final message should stimulate the soul. God is going to restore the ruined houses of the descendants of Jacob and He will show compassion on their ruined homes, the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place, Jeremiah 30:18.

Some versions speaking about restoring Jacob’s tents but that doesn’t mean that the people are nomads and have to live in tents. We know this from the next line that talks about ‘dwellings,’ Jeremiah 30:18. The message here is glory is to be restored to the remnant in material blessings.

They will be able to be joyful and give thanks, Jeremiah 30:19. Glory is to be restored in their congregation as their numbers grow, Jeremiah 30:19 / Genesis 22:17. There is protection for God’s people and God says He will punish those who oppress them, Jeremiah 30:20, and glory is going to be restored in government, Jeremiah 30:21.

Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.

‘Both Nehemiah and Zerubbabel, their nobles and governors after the return from Babylon, were Jews.’

We should be grateful for the glory bestowed upon us by God. They will be God’s people and He will be their God, Jeremiah 30:22. Many scholars find a clear prophecy here of the coming of the Messiah, Deuteronomy 18:15, because only Jesus Christ could draw near to God like this, Jeremiah 30:21 / Hebrews 4:16.

God’s wrath is depicted as storm, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked, Jeremiah 30:23. God’s fierce anger will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart Jeremiah 30:24. They may not understand now but they will later, Jeremiah 30:24. These last two verses have already been spoken of back in Jeremiah 23:19-20.

Go To Jeremiah 31