In these studies in the second half of the book of Jeremiah,  we will see God’s word coming through Jeremiah and being rejected again and again. We will see the difficulties of Jeremiah but also the way he is saved through it all. Jeremiah is God’s reporter on the spot, in the midst of one of the most tumultuous periods in Israel’s history.

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

Promise of Restoration

Jer 30:1-3,10,11,18-22   

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. ³ The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”

¹⁰ “‘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.
¹¹ 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.’

¹⁸ “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.
¹⁹ From them will come songs of thanksgiving
    and the sound of rejoicing.
I will add to their numbers,
    and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,
    and they will not be disdained.
²⁰ Their children will be as in days of old,
    and their community will be established before me;
    I will punish all who oppress them.
²¹ Their leader will be one of their own;
    their ruler will arise from among them.
I will bring him near and he will come close to me—
    for who is he who will devote himself
    to be close to me?’
declares the Lord.
²² “‘So you will be my people,
    and I will be your God.’”

A. Find Out

1. What did the Lord instruct? v.2
2. What did He say He would do? v.3,10
3. But what did He say He was doing with them? v.11b
4. What specifically would happen? v.18b
5. How would they respond? v.19
6. What will be their long-term relationship? v.22

B. Think:

1. What are these verses basically about?
2. Why had the Lord sent them to a distant land?
3. What sort of effect would you expect this message to have on people?

C. Comment:

At the time of receiving this word, some of Israel had already been taken away into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, and the rest were destined to be taken. For the remaining nation of Israel (really only Judah and Benjamin remaining), it was a traumatic time. Into this would come God’s word.

First comes the promise of restoration, the promise to bring back the nation from captivity to its own land. Second comes a promise of peace and security once they are restored. Third comes the promise that both city and palace will be rebuilt. Fourth comes the promise of a rebuilt, rejoicing and growing community, led by their own leader, as the people of God.

The present day may be one of tribulation but the future will be one of blessing. Throughout the Scripture where God brings judgement, there is always a hope for the future, that God will make something new from the ashes of what is. The Bible is always a book of hope for us. Discipline and correction should always be followed by reconciliation and restoration. 

D. Application:

1. Do we concentrate grimly on the God of discipline and judgement, or hope in the God of correction, restoration and new things?
2. Thank the Lord that He makes us new instead of destroying us totally.