Jeremiah 30:1-3

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

JEREMIAH'S FAITH IN THE FUTURE

Jeremiah 30:1 to Jeremiah 33:26

Chapter s 30-33, the so-called Book of Consolation, is the only consistently hopeful section of the Book of Jeremiah. It is likely that these Chapter s date to the tenth year of Zedekiah (588 B.C.). At least that is the date assigned to Chapter s 32 and 33.[243] These were dark days for Judah and for Jeremiah. The Chaldean army was at the gates of Jerusalem. The city was experiencing the famine, pestilence and misery connected with siege operations. Jeremiah himself had been imprisoned in the court of the guard as a suspected traitor. Even though events had proved him to be speaking truth with regard to the fate of Jerusalem, still the people refused to acknowledge Jeremiah as the man of God that he was. They rather suspected that he was collaborating with the enemy. These dark and dire days gave birth to one of the most beautiful passages in the entire Bible. Here is the positive aspect of the prophet's ministry. He is now beginning to build and to plant (Jeremiah 1:10). At times during his ministry Jeremiah had been permitted to have a glimpse of the events which were beyond the judgment. But this section of the book is unique in that here the focus is upon hope and salvation. Here the prophet treats the great themes of the destruction of Babylon; the return of God's people; the reunification of Israel and Judah; the coming of Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom.

[243] Chapter s 30 and 31 have been assigned to periods all the way from the time of Josiah to the governorship of Gedaliah. While one cannot be absolutely certain about the dating of these two Chapter s, it is reasonable to assume that they were written at the same time as Chapter s 32 and 33.

From the literary standpoint this section contains the following elements: an introduction (Jeremiah 30:1-3); a collection of poetic oracles (Jeremiah 30:4 to Jeremiah 31:22); two collections of prose sermons (Jeremiah 31:23-40; Jeremiah 32:26 to Jeremiah 33:26); a narrative account of a symbolic act (Jeremiah 32:1-15); a prayer for enlightenment (Jeremiah 32:16-25). A topical analysis of the material in these Chapter s suggests the following outline: (1) the promise of restoration (Jeremiah 30:4-24); (2) the blessings of restoration (Jeremiah 31:1-40); and (3) confidence in restoration (Jeremiah 32:1 to Jeremiah 33:26).

INTRODUCTION Jeremiah 30:1-3

TRANSLATION

(1) The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD saying, Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Write for yourself all the words which I have spoken unto you in a book. (3) For behold, the days are coming (oracle of the LORD) when I will reverse the fortunes of MY people Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will cause them to return unto the land which I gave unto their fathers and they shall repossess it.

COMMENTS

The first three verses of chapter 30 serve to introduce the Book of Consolation. Here Jeremiah is commanded by the Lord to record in a book[244] the words which God had spoken to him concerning the future of the nation. Unlike the collection of prophecies referred to in chapter Jeremiah 36:1-6, this book does not seem to be intended for public proclamation but rather for the personal comfort of the prophet. This is suggested by the words write for your own sake (Jeremiah 30:2). The Hebrew word member (book) can refer to any size document from a single page to an extensive treatise.

[244] While some scholars think that the book mentioned here comprises only Chapter s 30.31, it is probably best to include Chapter s 32-33 as well.

Chapter s 30-33 have been described as a little green oasis in the midst of a dry and barren desert.[245] Verse three sets the tone of the whole section. The reason Jeremiah is to compile another book is because there are glorious things for the covenant people. Behold! days are coming is an expression which points to a certain, but indefinite, time in the future. Three wonderful things are stipulated as part of those future days. (1) God will turn again the captivity i.e., reverse the fortunes of His people. (2) Israel and Judah will once again be reunited. (3) God's people will return to the land which He had given to their fathers.

[245] F. Cawley, Jeremiah, The New Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964), p. 626.