“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.
For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”
(Psalm 33:4, 8 NIV)
My Bible Recap plan has taken me into Jeremiah lately. The prophet Jeremiah had a long life and ministry speaking God’s word to the people before and after Judah’s exile to Babylon. Honestly, I’ve found the first 30 chapters of Jeremiah difficult to read. God gives him some pretty harsh stuff to say and it seems he has to say it over, and over, and over. Today I was reading chapter 30 and found myself hearing in my head something I hadn’t thought of before. Before I tell you what it is, read this passage from Jeremiah 30:8-11, 17-8 (NIV):
“‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
‘I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
“‘So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,’ declares the Lord.
‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.
“I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord.
‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only in due measure;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’
But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’
“This is what the Lord says:
“‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place.“
As you read these verses, what did you hear? Obviously, Jeremiah’s message is beginning to change from “gloom and doom” to “hope.” But four little letters caught my attention: the word “will.” In this context “will” is used as a helping verb to show something that is slated to take place in the future. When I read it today I heard an emphasis on the will – like God was saying that not only is he planning to do these things in the future, but he WILL without a doubt complete what he says he plans to do. Go back and reread those verese, but put an emphasis on the “WILL.” It’s like God is reassuring us of his sovereignty over his plans and the future.
He WILL break the yoke off their necks.
He WILL tear off their bonds.
He WILL raise up a godly leader for the people.
He WILL surely save his people in exile.
He WILL restore [them] to health and heal [their] wounds.
He WILL restore the fortunes of his people.
To me, this emphasizes God’s plans and purposes as being firm and secure. Although we have a part to play in God’s plan, ultimately he is sovereign.
This chapter ends with:
“‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’
See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.
The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart.
In days to come you will understand this.” (Jeremiah 30:22-24 NIV)
God didn’t give up on his people, even when sinfulness estranged them (and us) from him. He is still God! He WILL deal with the wickedness and evil in the world. How long? Until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. We may not yet understand this, but he WILL accomplish the plans and purposes of his heart. Thanks be to God!!
Praise to you, O Lord our God, for your great love toward your people. Your faithfulness endures forever, throughout all generations, times, and places. The earth, everything in it, and all who live in it are yours, O Sovereign Lord. Thank you that through Jesus you made a way for us to come to you with clean hands and a pure heart so that we can ascend into your presence and stand in your holiness. Thank you for your steadfastness and your promises that are always true. Thank you that when you say you will do something, even if it is some unknown time in the future, you WILL accomplish your purposes because you cannot fail. When the greater world or our individual lives feel like they are lived in an exile of sorts – surrounded on all sides by enemies who seek to destroy us – remind us of your presence, your faithfulness, and your promises that are always “yes” and “amen” because you cannot fail. Remind us that you will accomplish the purposes of your heart for us because you are our God. We ask this in Jesus’s name, Amen.
“Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 117:1-2 NIV)
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.” (Psalm 24:1-6 NIV)
“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” (Joshua 21:45 NIV)
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV)