Study of Jeremiah Chapter 31

Study of Jeremiah
Chapter 31

(Jer 31:1) At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
(Jer 31:2) Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
(Jer 31:3) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Here we see our wonderful God still reminding us that God has not abandoned Israel. For years, Israel did not exist from 70 AD to 1948. In order to explain this, many of the church before 1948 thought that these passages referred to the church rather than literal Israel. After 1948 there is no excuse for any replacement theology by the church. No where in the bible do I see the church replacing Israel in the scriptures. The church didn't come into existence until the days of the apostles. Every believer who comes to Jesus Christ becomes part of Israel by adoption but we do not take Israel's place. As soon as Israel comes to Jesus Christ and repent of sin as the church before them did, they will be grafted in again to their own vine. In the book of Jeremiah it speaks of the judgment of Israel and also the restoration of Israel. We have no right to change that.

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Rom 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Rom 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Rom 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Rom 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

We see here in Romans 11 that Israel was cut off because they rejected Christ and did not believe and accept God's plan of salvation. We see that blindness came upon them and then the gospel was given to the Gentiles. The Gentiles which were not part of the law and were outcasts from God, accepted God's plan of salvation and were grafted into the olive tree.

That doesn't mean that we replaced Israel but we adopted into Israel by faith in Jesus Christ. Israel will be saved but in order to be saved they must repent and accept Jesus Christ, just like the Gentiles did. This they will do in the future. They will be grafted in to their own olive tree and be saved. We must not think that the church has replaced them but we will be part of them in the new coming Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

(Jer 31:4) Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

This type of dancing seems like the kind that the children of Israel did when they crossed the Red Sea and escaped Pharaoh and his armies. It is a dance of rejoicing with tambourines and praise to God. It is not the modern dances we see in today's world to the beat of rock music. I picture it as jumping up and down, skipping and and delighting in the Lord in spontaneous praise. I don't see it as something we practice and rehearse for such as ballet. Laying my comments aside though, the merry making here is a picture of rejoicing in the salvation of God who delivered Israel from their enemies. We can rejoice also for Jesus Christ delivered us from the enemy of sin and bondage to sin. We who were lost and apart from God can rejoice in that we are part of eternal salvation because of what Christ did on our behalf.

(Jer 31:5) Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.

No more will they plant vines and plants only to have someone else steal them and take them away. They will eat of their own vines.

(Jer 31:6) For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.

(Jer 31:7) For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.

Singing and shouting has always been part of worship and should never be criticized as out of order. We shout and scream at football games when someone scores a touchdown, how much greater is praise to God. I know there should be a time of quiet bible study. In fact more and more as the evil days come upon us that we need the word to keep from being caught away by every wind of doctrine. The word of God should take preeminence over everything else. So there should be times of rejoicing and times of studying God's word. These pictured here in verse 7 are those that are rejoicing in God for His salvation which has finally come to Israel after much sorrow and travail.

(Jer 31:8) Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

The re-gathering of Israel is for all, great or small, child or adult. They will return to the land of Israel. At first there will be a great tribulation as the enemies of Israel will try their best to defeat the purpose of God toward them. Satan has always hated Israel and will seek to stop them from being a nation. Because of their rejection of Jesus Christ, Satan has had more strength to defeat Israel but that will end and it will be a time of rejoicing that the world has never yet seen.

(Jer 31:9) They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

They shall weep probably with repentance that they didn't recognize their Messiah sooner. They also probably wept to see their homeland again when they were brought back from captivity from Babylon.

(Jer 31:10) Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

Literal Israel shall be gathered. Israel here does not mean the church. Bible prophecy will be much easier to understand if we stop confusion Israel with the church. If we open our eyes and read the bible taking it literally unless we are certain that the passage contains symbols of something else, we will not confuse Israel and the church. I can understand this before 1948 but we see clearly that when the bible says Israel, it means Israel, not the church.

Israel is gathered here.

Israel was the one that was in bondage in Egypt and was delivered by God using His prophet, Moses. Israel was the one taken captive by Babylon for their sin of rejecting God and worshipping the idols of surrounding nations. Israel was the one brought back from captivity after 70 years. Israel was the one existing during the time of Christ that was under Roman rule. Israel was scattered again in 70 AD because of their rejection of their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Israel was re-gathered back in 1948. Israel has a part of future bible prophecy. When the bible says Israel, it means Israel.

In the book of Revelation, when the tribes of Israel are numbered and sealed by the angel of God, it means the actual Israel. The Gentile believers may possibly be the number that can't be numbered standing before the throne of God.

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Jer 31:11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
Jer 31:12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
(Jer 31:13) Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
(Jer 31:14) And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

Verse 15 jumps from prophecy of the time of good back to the time before that final victory. One time similar to this is the time when Herod ordered the slaying of male children under the age of two in order to kill the Christ child. There were many times after that though that Israel was severely persecuted and killed by their enemies. The Spanish inquisition, the holocaust during the time of Hitler and many other times when Rachael could weep over her children. This was literally fulfilled at the time of Herod but I believe it to refer also of the future suffering and the great tribulation period spoken of in Revelation.

(Jer 31:15) Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

I could just imagine the mothers weeping at the time when Herod's soldiers slew all those little ones.

Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Mat 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
Mat 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

(Jer 31:16) Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

Final restoration of Israel after the time of the anti-christ and great tribulation.

(Jer 31:17) And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
(Jer 31:18) I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
(Jer 31:19) Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
(Jer 31:20) Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
(Jer 31:21) Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
(Jer 31:22) How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

God continues to plead with backslidding Israel to return to Him. Israel has always been represented by a woman.

A woman shall compass a man has been the subject of much speculation. Perhaps it speaks of the lack of men because of so much war. It could mean that in the latter days women will take more of roles in leadership. We do see this today. Also I've seen places where women have had to take the spiritual leadership in the home because the men do not. It is an interesting subject and not one I would argue over. I don't believe this refers to the virgin Mary. Some think that women shall become greater than men and take on a man's role.

I sincerely believe this woman is Israel and the new thing is the salvation of the woman Israel when she discovers that the Messiah she once rejected is Jesus Christ that was crucified for the sins of the whole world. We see this woman pictured in the book of Revelation.

Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

(Jer 31:23) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
(Jer 31:24) And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
(Jer 31:25) For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
(Jer 31:26) Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
(Jer 31:27) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
(Jer 31:28) And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

This in my opinion is two meanings. They will rebuild after the Babylonian captivity after 70 years and in the latter days after being scattered again over all the earth. Praise God for His word will come to pass no matter what men may say about it.

(Jer 31:29) In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
(Jer 31:30) But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

That is the way it is now. We are answerable for our own sins, not the sins of our fathers. We shall die for our own iniquity unless we accept the plan of salvation God provides through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to escape judgment for iniquity because He already died for our iniquity.

(Jer 31:31) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
(Jer 31:32) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
(Jer 31:33) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This should make everyone reading want to shout. The law will be written in there hearts just like it is in the hearts of those that believe upon Jesus Christ. How is this possible? By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is such a difference when one is saved by faith in Jesus. Instead of trying to be good by our own will power, Jesus gives us His power by giving us the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We become born again and have the living water of the Holy Spirit in our innermost being. The Holy Spirit is our teacher to teach us the meaning of God's word and write that law of God in our hearts. Our "wants" change. We no longer desire the things we once did. Jesus Christ makes us to have a new heart and new spirit. This comes when one repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as savior. This is for Israel and for all who would believe. This is the new covenant. The old covenant had no power to change a life and take away our sin. The old law simply showed us what sin was and how serious sin was. The new covenant is given to take that old sin away and bring us eternal life. This was discussed by Jesus when speaking to the woman at the well in John 4. We worship Him now in spirit and in truth.

Joh 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Joh 4:20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Joh 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

(Jer 31:34) And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

What rejoicing this should bring. We can know the Lord. Jews, Gentiles, black, while, young and old. We can know the Lord. We can talk to the Lord. We can walk in the Spirit of the Lord. Hallelujah.

(Jer 31:35) Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
(Jer 31:36) If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
(Jer 31:37) Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
(Jer 31:38) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
(Jer 31:39) And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
(Jer 31:40) And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

This speaks of the new time when Jesus Christ will rule from Jerusalem. No unclean thing shall be in His new kingdom. Faith in Jesus Christ will make us to be partakers of that Kingdom and we will reign with Jesus Christ at this time.

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Study of Jeremiah 32

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