Chapters 30-31
In Chapters 30-31 Jeremiah discusses a new covenant stressing that God will forgive the Israelites for their sins and renew his relationship with them. This forgiveness comes in a few different forms. The first form that is mentioned is in terms of physical possessions. The people are told that they will enter exile and 70 years later be returned. This exile will damage the people’s identity and strip them of almost all their earthly possessions. After exile God will restore their wealth in their own land. God says “I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers” (Chapter 30, vs. 3). This is God promising that everyone in Israel will be
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fully restored. God promises forgiveness for Israel’s trespasses. He will return them to how they lived before their sin. God brings back King David, saying “But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them” (Ch. 30, vs. 9). In the time of King David there was great wealth and prosperity. The land was blessed by God because David was fulfilling the covenant. God says he will restore health to the people and heal their wounds. God will bless them and restore their fortunes, he will also satisfy the weary souls which have been in bondage for 70 years. God will make his new covenant similar to his old in that there will still be land, blessing, descendants. God tells his people that he will multiply them and they shall not be few. Many people will die in exile, because of the slave labor they are subjected to. Many more people will choose to remain in Babylon, simply because they have finally settled down and do not want to uproot their lives. However, for the people that return God says their children will be as they were of old, and God will punish those who oppress them “You shall me my people, and I will be your God” (Chapter 30, vs. 22). God will use his people to bless the surrounding nations. In this new covenant many things appear to be different.
This covenant is established on the return from exile. This event will bring the people together. In contrast to the previous covenant, this covenant is unbreakable. God adds a salvific element to this covenant. He will write the law upon their hearts and they shall know him. This covenant was not one that the people entered into, like with Abram. God is now establishing a vertical relationship with his people. He is entering the people and forming the relationship. The covenant is much more individual. God says that he will no longer remember the sin. He is going to disregard their faults and move on with this new covenant. God seems to offer the people no real option. They have to enter into this covenant and it will be best for them as individuals and as a nation. This forgiveness is free for the people. This forgiveness comes with repentance. No longer shall the people desire to do evil but rather to do what is good and worth in the sight of God. There are no restrictions on this covenant, even the lowest people in Israel get God’s love, not just the high priests. God is establishing the covenant that he had wanted all along. He speaks to Israel as if they were children “Is E’phraim my dear son? . . . Therefore my heart yearns for him, I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord” (Chapter 30, vs.
20).
fully restored. God promises forgiveness for Israel’s trespasses. He will return them to how they lived before their sin. God brings back King David, saying “But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them” (Ch. 30, vs. 9). In the time of King David there was great wealth and prosperity. The land was blessed by God because David was fulfilling the covenant. God says he will restore health to the people and heal their wounds. God will bless them and restore their fortunes, he will also satisfy the weary souls which have been in bondage for 70 years. God will make his new covenant similar to his old in that there will still be land, blessing, descendants. God tells his people that he will multiply them and they shall not be few. Many people will die in exile, because of the slave labor they are subjected to. Many more people will choose to remain in Babylon, simply because they have finally settled down and do not want to uproot their lives. However, for the people that return God says their children will be as they were of old, and God will punish those who oppress them “You shall me my people, and I will be your God” (Chapter 30, vs. 22). God will use his people to bless the surrounding nations. In this new covenant many things appear to be different.
This covenant is established on the return from exile. This event will bring the people together. In contrast to the previous covenant, this covenant is unbreakable. God adds a salvific element to this covenant. He will write the law upon their hearts and they shall know him. This covenant was not one that the people entered into, like with Abram. God is now establishing a vertical relationship with his people. He is entering the people and forming the relationship. The covenant is much more individual. God says that he will no longer remember the sin. He is going to disregard their faults and move on with this new covenant. God seems to offer the people no real option. They have to enter into this covenant and it will be best for them as individuals and as a nation. This forgiveness is free for the people. This forgiveness comes with repentance. No longer shall the people desire to do evil but rather to do what is good and worth in the sight of God. There are no restrictions on this covenant, even the lowest people in Israel get God’s love, not just the high priests. God is establishing the covenant that he had wanted all along. He speaks to Israel as if they were children “Is E’phraim my dear son? . . . Therefore my heart yearns for him, I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord” (Chapter 30, vs.
20).