2. Old covenant goes and New covenant promised: Old covenant was dysfunctional and over, but God promised Jeremiah that Jesus would come and establish a New Covenant with his people. Testament. Covenant, Agreement, are all the same words. This New Covenant was first given to Jeremiah circa 600 B.C. The agreement words are found in Jer 31:31-34 (quoted in Heb 8:10-13, 10:16,17). You would do well to read it over and over again and memorize it. It summarizes the New Testament. The Messiah will come and live in our midst (23:5,6) and teach us his ways, Holy Spirit will enable us to obey his commandments. Also, Jesus will forgive us our sins. Jesus said at the last supper, This is my blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many, for the forgiveness of sins. (Mat 26:28). | 3. Your food will be taken care of: Day to day living was tough, but God gave Jeremiah a promise of safety and nourishment. When food was over in the city, Jeremiah still could eat 3 meals a day because King instructed the people to feed him in the prison (37:21). Even in a war zone, God fed him! | 4. Healing: God is asking, Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people? For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says Christ. (8:22, 30:17)! | 5. New Pastors: Congregation/Church was in a very bad state but God told him that He would give new Pastors that will actually feed the flock and take care of them. (3:15). Shepherds after his own heart, to fill us with His word and take care of us. | Every one of Jeremiah’s words came to pass. In 586 B.C, Nebuchadnezzar came and destroyed Jerusalem. Many thousands of Jews were killed, and there were corpses all around. Old and young, women and children died. Temple was destroyed totally. It was a colossal tragedy. He wrote of it in Lamentations. These two books, show us light in some of the darkest times in the lives of God’s people in the Old Testament. This is what gives me a glimmer of hope for today, that God will still intervene. | Jeremiah lived a life of incredible persecution. He was a bachelor as God asked him not to marry, he and his assistant Baruch were harassed continually, copies of his book were burnt by the king in his fireplace (36:22-25). Jeremiah was put in prison by the false preachers (20:1-2), a second time he was cast into a miry pit, sinking slowly to die. Then God sent Ebedmelech (an Ethiopian eunuch in the King’s court) who instantly rushed to the well, and pulled him up to safety using ropes made of old clothes. His own people plotted to kill him, politicians wanted to silence him. But he was still faithful to God. | Fast forward 600 years and Christ did come as Jeremiah prophesied. You are I are standing in the New Covenant promised to him. Jeremiah calls Jesus- Righteous Branch, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, The LORD- our righteousness (23:5,6, 33:15,16). The God of Jeremiah, Lord Jesus Christ is still our hope. Today may Jesus come into our situations and relieve us and tend his sheep. | | |
|
|