hope in punishment

August 27, 2021

hope in punishment

Pastor To Chongji

Reading: Jeremiah 30:1-24

Selected Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 30

"...3. Behold, the days are coming when I will bring back my people Israel and Judah from their captivity. This is what the LORD says. I will bring them back to the place I gave to their ancestors, says the LORD. land, and they have it as an inheritance.”  …

8. The LORD of hosts says, "In that day I will break the yoke of your enemies around your neck and break your leash. The stranger will no longer make him a slave. 9. They will serve the LORD their God, serve King David whom I have raised up for them."

10. Do not be afraid, O my servant Jacob; do not be dismayed, O Israel; for I have rescued you from afar, and your descendants from the land of captivity; Jacob shall return in peace and comfort, and no one can make him afraid . this is what Jehovah said. 11. Because I am with you, I will save you, and I will wipe out those kingdoms that I drove you to; but I will not wipe you out, but I will punish you leniently, but I must not go unpunished. . this is what Jehovah said.

12. This is what the LORD says: "Your wounds cannot be healed, and your wounds are exceedingly great. 13. No one can defend your wounds, and there is no good medicine to heal you. …

18. This is what the Lord says: "Behold, I will restore Jacob's tent from captivity, and I will spare his dwelling place. The city shall be built on its ruins, and the palace shall be inhabited. 19. There shall be From it comes the voice of thanksgiving and joy, and I will increase them and not reduce them; I will honor them and not humble them. 20. Their children shall be as before; their congregations shall be established before me; and whoever oppresses them, I will Punishment. 21. Their king is their own, and the rulers will come from them. I will bring him near to me, and he will draw near to me; otherwise, who would dare to come near me? This is what the LORD says. 22. You Be my people, and I will be your God."

23. Behold, the wrath of the LORD has gone forth like a tempest; it is a sweeping tempest, which shall turn on the heads of the wicked. 24. The wrath of the LORD will not turn away, until the purpose of his heart is fulfilled and fulfilled; you will understand in the last days.

Times Meditation:

Chapters 30-33 are called "The Book of Hope" or "The Book of Comfort" and are the central part of the entire book of Jeremiah. In the first part of the book, sparks of hope flashed from time to time, and were scattered in the messages of judgment. In chapters 30-33, the messages of hope and consolation were brought into full play. Although the thunder of judgment still rumbles, the promise of future revival is like a dazzling morning light, bringing great encouragement to the Israelites during the darkest hour in Judah's history. Although the Lord promised that some of the people would return from captivity and serve the LORD, they would still be punished.

This passage begins with the Lord saying "the days are coming" (3), and ends with "the last days and you will understand" (24), echoing that "day" at the beginning and the end, with two messages:

(1) On that day, the wounds suffered by Jacob's house will be healed (5~17):

At the beginning of the psalm, it describes the men of Jacob’s family, whose pain is like a woman who is in childbirth (5~7), but the Lord promises that they will be rescued from the abyss of pain and will serve the Lord again and the Lord has raised up "King David" (9). The hymn continues to sing that the children of Jacob's house will return from captivity and be protected by the Lord (10-11). Looking back at the trauma that Jacob's family suffered in the past, it was extremely serious, to the point where the medicine and stone were ineffective, all because of their great sin and many sins (12-15). However, because of the Lord’s mercy, He will take vengeance on the peoples who harmed Jacob’s family, and declares that the wounds of Jacob’s family will be healed (16-17).

(2) On that day, Jacob's family will be returned from captivity and will live in peace (18~24):

The poem then describes the return of the Jacob family to their homeland: the city will be rebuilt from the ruins, the fortress will stand on the ground, the song will be sung from the countryside, the honor of the nation will be restored, and they will no longer be despised and bullied (18). ~20), for the Lord will do justice, and his wrath will not turn away until his plan is accomplished (24).

It is the same with us. Those who err must be disciplined. So let us not think that grace is an excuse for sin.

Answer the prayer:

The Holy Spirit often reminds us not to sin at will because of the grace of forgiveness.