A Father for Israel
Jeremiah 38, verse 1. “At that time,” says the Lord, “I will be as God to the family of Israel, and they shall be as My people.” Jeremiah 38, verse 2. Thus says the Lord: “I found him alive in the desert with those slain by the sword. Go and do not destroy Israel.” Jeremiah 38, verse 3. The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I drew you in compassion. Jeremiah 38, verse 4. O virgin of Israel, I shall build you, and you will be restored. You shall again take your tambourine and go forth with the assembly of those who rejoice. Jeremiah 38, verse 5. Moreover, plant a vineyard on the mountains of Samaria. Plant and praise, Jeremiah 38, verse 6. for it is a day of calling, when those who defend you on the mountains of Ephraim will say, ‘Arise and go up to Zion to the Lord our God.’” Jeremiah 38, verse 7. For thus says the Lord to Jacob: “Rejoice and exult in the Head of the nations. Make a proclamation and praise Him. Say, ‘The Lord saved His people, the remnant of Israel.’ Jeremiah 38, verse 8. Behold, I will bring them from the north, and gather them from the ends of the earth to the feast of Passover. You shall beget a great multitude, and they shall return here. Jeremiah 38, verse 9. They went forth with weeping, but I will gather them with consolation. I will cause them to lodge by the channels of waters in an upright way, and they will not be led astray; for I have become as a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. Jeremiah 38, verse 10. “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations. Proclaim it to the islands far distant and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will also gather and protect him, as one who feeds his flock.’ Jeremiah 38, verse 11. For the Lord redeemed Jacob. He redeemed him from the hand of those stronger than he. Jeremiah 38, verse 12. They shall come and be glad in the mountain of Zion, and they shall come to the goodness of the Lord; to the land of wheat, wine, and fruit, and of cattle and sheep. Their soul shall be like a fruitful tree, and they shall hunger no more. Jeremiah 38, verse 13. Then shall the virgins rejoice in the assembly of young men, and the old men shall rejoice. I will turn their mourning into joy, and I will make them glad. Jeremiah 38, verse 14. I will magnify and cheer with wine the soul of these priests, the sons of Levi, and My people shall be satisfied with My good things.”
Mercy for Ephraim
Jeremiah 38, verse 15. Thus says the Lord: “A voice of lamentation, weeping, and mourning was heard in Ramah. Rachel does not wish to cease mourning deeply over her children, because they are no more.” Jeremiah 38, verse 16. Thus says the Lord: “Let your voice cease from its bitter weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your works, and they shall return from the land of their enemies. Jeremiah 38, verse 17. There shall be an abiding home for your children. Jeremiah 38, verse 18. “I heard the news of Ephraim, lamenting, ‘You chastised me, and I was chastised. Like a calf, I was not taught, but turn me back, and I shall return; for You are the Lord my God. Jeremiah 38, verse 19. For after my captivity I repented, and after I knew, I groaned because of the day of shame, and showed You that I bore the reproach of my youth.’ Jeremiah 38, verse 20. Ephraim is a beloved son and a child who is a delight to Me, because My words are in him. I will surely remember him; therefore I hastened to help him. I will surely have mercy upon him,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 38, verse 21. “Rouse yourself, O Zion, and bring about vengeance. Be strong in your heart and return by the way you went, O virgin of Israel. Return to your cities and mourn. Jeremiah 38, verse 22. How long, O dishonored daughter, will you turn away? For the Lord has created safety by a new planting. Men will travel about in security.” Jeremiah 38, verse 23. Thus says the Lord: “They will say this word in the land of Judah and its cities when I bring back the host of captives: ‘Blessed is the Lord on His righteous and holy mountain.’ Jeremiah 38, verse 24. There shall be those who dwell in the cities of Judah and in all its land, together with the farmer, and the shepherd shall go forth with his flock. Jeremiah 38, verse 25. For I have satiated every thirsty soul and filled every hungry soul.” Jeremiah 38, verse 26. Therefore, I awoke and beheld, and my sleep was pleasant to me. Jeremiah 38, verse 27. “Therefore, behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will sow Israel and Judah with the seed of man and the seed of cattle. Jeremiah 38, verse 28. It shall come to pass, as I watched over them to overthrow and afflict, so too, I will watch over them to build and plant,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 38, verse 29. “In those days, they shall not say, ‘The fathers ate sour grapes, and the children's teeth were set on edge.’ Jeremiah 38, verse 30. But rather, each shall die in his own sin, and the teeth of him who eats the sour grapes shall be set on edge.
The New Covenant
Jeremiah 38, verse 31. “Behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I shall make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, Jeremiah 38, verse 32. not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not abide in My covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 38, verse 33. “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will surely put My laws into their mind and write them on their hearts. I will be as God to them, and they shall be as My people. Jeremiah 38, verse 34. Each shall not teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their wrongdoings, and I will no longer remember their sins. Jeremiah 38, verse 35. “Though the sky should be raised to a greater height,” says the Lord, “and though the ground of the earth should be sunk lower beneath, yet I would not reject the family of Israel,” says the Lord, “for all they have done.” Jeremiah 38, verse 36. Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun as a light by day, and the moon and the stars as a light by night; and who makes the sea roar so its waves make a crashing sound. The Lord Almighty is His name. Jeremiah 38, verse 37. “If these laws cease from before Me,” says the Lord, “the family of Israel shall also cease to be a nation before Me forever. Jeremiah 38, verse 38. “Behold, days are coming,” says the Lord, “when the city shall be built for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. Jeremiah 38, verse 39. The measure of the city shall proceed in front of them as far as the hills of Gareb, and it shall be encircled round about by choice stones. Jeremiah 38, verse 40. All Hasaremoth as far as the Kidron River, to the corner of the Horse Gate eastward, shall be a sanctuary to the Lord. It shall not fail or be destroyed anymore forever.”