Chapter 30

One curious thing that I have noticed in the last couple of days: Somehow some songs that I remember hearing a long time ago have come back to mind. Here is a youtube link to one that somehow seems appropriate for today’s passage. According to this page, the structure of Jeremiah has turned a bit of a corner. Chapters 29-33 refer to the great hope of Israel. He hasn’t finished declaring doom by a long stretch, but at least we receive a bit of a rest from the constant doom and gloom! Whereas previous chapters have been about God’s promise to bring judgement, this chapter is about God promising to bring His people back. Let’s have a look at the list of promises: God will: • Turn everything around (v3) • Bring them back to the land He gave their ancestors (v3) • Bring his people out alive (v7) • Free them from slavery (vs 8-9) • Save them from faraway places (v10) • Bring their children back from exile (v10) • Give ‘Jacob’ a good life(v10) • Be with them and save them (v11) • Punish them, but fairly (v11) • Bring vengeance to those who hurt them (vs 16 – 17) • Compassionately rebuild homes (v18 – 21) • Be their God as they are His people (v22) • Sweep up the evil like a dust devil (v23) That’s a lot of promises, right there . . . The big thing is that over all, God is promising , now that the people have been exiled, to bring them back, and to be their God. It’s all about redemption.