Looking toward Restoration (1)

Pray Psalm 126.6.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Sing Psalm 126.6.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
They who in tears of sorrow sow
and cast their seed on every hand,
with joy shall reach their heav’nly home,
and bring the harvest of their land.

Read and meditate on Jeremiah 32.1-15.

Prepare.
1. What did God instruct Jeremiah to do?

2. Why did God do this?

Meditate.
Nebuchadnezzar has laid siege to Jerusalem, and everyone is in a panic (vv. 1, 2). They’re running out of food and water. The Babylonian noose is tightening around them. All day long the people can hear the pounding of siege equipment against the walls of the city.

Just exactly as Jeremiah has been trying to tell them since the days of Josiah. And for his trouble, Jeremiah has been put in prison by King Zedekiah (vv. 2, 3). It’s amazing how blinding the effects of sin can be. Here Zedekiah can see unfolding before him just exactly what Jeremiah has been preaching all these years, and yet he still asks him, “Why do you prophesy” like this? (vv. 3-5). The Word of God was unfolding right before his eyes, and all Zedekiah wanted to do was silence it, not obey it.

Meanwhile, God instructed Jeremiah to purchase a field which was his right back in his hometown of Anathoth (vv. 6-12). When his uncle showed up with the offer, Jeremiah didn’t hesitate. Can you hear the guards, and what must have spread throughout the royal household? “What’s he doing in there?” “He’s buying a field in Anathoth.” “He’s what?” “Yeah, buying into the family farm” “Is he crazy?” “Who knows?”

The purchase of the field was yet another sign from God that the coming captivity in Babylon was not the end of His people. They would return, just as He promised, and they would rebuild their cities and farms; and once again the land would prosper with the blessings of God (vv. 13-15).

God was teaching the people to look past the difficult days, look beyond them to the promises He has made of restoration and renewal. If we focus on the troubles that surround and threaten us, we will despair, and we won’t seek the Lord for the promised future and hope He intends to give us (Jer. 29.11-13). Every day we must live toward and for restoration, making plans, dreaming dreams, and doing cheerfully the work that comes before us each day with a view to realizing more of the presence, promise, and power of God’s Word and Kingdom in everything we do.

Feeling a little down and discouraged today? Go buy a field.

Reflect.
1. What could you do today that would be analogous to Jeremiah’s purchasing a field?

2. What does it mean to live toward the promised restoration of God?

3. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14.17, 18? What does it mean to pray for and seek this Kingdom (Matt. 6.10, 33)?

Now the purpose of the whole is to shew that after a long time the Jews would return to their own country, for God would restore them, and their captivity would have an end. God's design, then, was to give them a hope of deliverance, but yet they were admonished to wait patiently for the end of their exile. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Jeremiah 32.1-14

Lord, give me a vision for the future You want me to seek, and help me today as I…

Pray Psalm 126.1-6.
Ask God to clarify your vision of the Kingdom in its coming, and to give you plenty of “seed” to sow for its progress today.

Sing Psalm 126.1-6.
Psalm 126.1-6 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
When God restored our fortunes all,
we were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled,
made Him our constant song and theme.

Then the astonished nations said,
“The Lord has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done,
Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!

Restore our fortunes, Lord our King!
Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing
who sow while yet they weep and wail.

They who in tears of sorrow sow
and cast their seed on every hand,
with joy shall reach their heav’nly home,
and bring the harvest of their land.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).