God promised a day of deliverance and a new King. Jeremiah 20.1-24
A New Covenant (3)
Pray Psalm 115.1-3.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”
But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.
Sing Psalm 115.1-3.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus )
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, “Where is their God on high?”
You rule us, Lord, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Read and meditate on Jeremiah 30.1-24.
Prepare.
1. What did God promise His people?
2. What would they do when that promise was realized?
Meditate.
The question arising from this passage is, “Who is ‘David their king’?”
God told Jeremiah to write this message in a book. With all the false prophets among the people in captivity, working to lead them astray, God wanted His Word made permanent and easy to distribute, so that all the captives in Babylon would have hope (vv. 1-3). The people were suffering now, but a day of salvation lay just ahead, when the yoke of captivity would be broken from off them, and they would “serve the LORD their God, and David their king” (vv. 5-10).
The people of Israel had been scattered among many nations (v. 11). But God was with His people, and He was going to judge all those nations (v. 16), and set His people free from wherever He had sent them, so that they could return to their land.
Yes, what the people of God were experiencing for the present was difficult (vv. 12-15). But they needed to remember that they had brought this on themselves by their rebellion against the Lord and His Law.
But the day was coming when God would “restore health” to His people (v. 17) and bring them back to their dwelling places (v. 18). When that happened, the people would celebrate with thanksgiving and joy, and God would glorify them before the nations (v. 19). Then they would become His covenant people, His “congregation”; and they would resume their calling of multiplying and ruling in the earth (vv. 20-22).
“In the latter days” this would all come to pass (v. 24; cf. Acts 2.14-17). “David” would be established as King of Israel at that time; but this would not happen immediately after the return of Israel to the land. For no king sat on the throne of David following the return from exile. The coming seed of David, for Whom the faithful looked and longed, would be realized in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflect.
1. God promised to “glorify” His people. What did He mean by that?
2. To what does verse 22 refer? What is the meaning of this “slogan”?
3. Why was it important that Jeremiah write this in a book?
“I shall raise up David their king for them.” Christ the Lord brought fulfillment to the prophecy. He sprang from David according to the flesh, and he no longer shepherds only Israel but all the nations. Theodoret of Cyr (393-466), On Jeremiah 7.30
Jesus, You are my King, and today I will serve You by…
Pray Psalm 115.4-18.
Call on King Jesus as your help and shield for this day. Devote all your activities to Him and for His glory.
Sing Psalm 115.4-18.
Psalm 115.4-18 (Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
Idols made by men’s own hand – ever to Your Name be glory –
see nor hear nor understand – ever to Your Name be glory!
They neither feel nor walk, nor can they speak or talk;
all those who serve them fall, but unto Your Name be glory!
All who trust in Jesus yield – ever to His Name be glory! –
find in Him their help and shield – ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the Lord! He helps us evermore!
Fear Him obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Blessings from our gracious Lord – ever to Your Name be glory –
will attend us evermore – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, Lord, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Grant us, Savior, great increase – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace – ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
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).
