Rejoice in the Bounty of the Lord
Jeremiah 31:10-14
10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’ 11 For the Lord will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. 12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD-- the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. 13 Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. 14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty," declares the LORD.
My Bible Reader’s Companion states that the prophecies in Chapters 30-33 of Jeremiah were given during the last 18 months of the siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah reveals the amazing plan God has for the future of his restored people. Notes in the book of Ruth talk about the meaning of redemption (here in v11). A redeemer was one who avenged the killing of a relative, redeemed a relative sold into slavery, provided an heir for a brother who died, reclaimed/bought back land that poor relative had sold outside the family. Redemption is a big deal!
No wonder the maidens will dance and be glad! No wonder the people will come and shout for joy from the mountaintops! No wonder they will be comforted and satisfied. God will provide for their every need – physical and spiritual. He will redeem them from their sinful ways of the past and set them on the path of His salvation.
Jeremiah promised the people, through revelations given to Him by God, that a savior would come in the future. But He would be worth waiting for and hoping for! He would be the ultimate redemption for all time! And His redemption would be for eternity! So even though times are tough, maybe life isn’t working out the way you thought it would. Maybe you don’t like the way things are going right now. Well, don’t give up!
God already sent the promised redeemer Jeremiah only dreamed of and anticipated with hope! We already have the Risen Christ to comfort and assure us! There is no greater joy, no better gift, no other way to measure success—than by the depth and breadth of our relationship with Jesus Christ. So you don’t have to sing that your deliverer is coming! He has come! He is risen! He waits for you in heaven!
I hope you spend your day looking back to the unspeakable gift of Jesus and forward to the unimaginable future with Him in heaven.
Mary
