Jeremiah 31:8-9

B. A New Consolation Jeremiah 31:7-20

Jeremiah 31:7 sets the tone for the four paragraphs which follow. The prophet foresees the day when salvation will be accomplished and a new joy will fill the hearts of God's people. Jeremiah calls for shouts of joy and praise. It is not clear to whom this exhortation is addressed. The imperatives throughout the verse are in the plural. Jeremiah is probably calling upon all those who love the Lord whether Jew or Gentile to burst forth into joyous strains. Israel is here called the chief of the nations because God had chosen them from among all the nations for special privileges and obligations.[261] In the verses of this section

[261] Amos 3:2; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 4:7-8.

Jeremiah offers divine consolation to four different groups: the distressed (Jeremiah 31:8-9), the disheartened (Jeremiah 31:10-14), the disconsolate (Jeremiah 31:15-17) and the despondent (Jeremiah 31:18-20).

1. The distressed (Jeremiah 31:8-9)

TRANSLATION

(7) For thus says the LORD: Shout joyously for Jacob! Rejoice over the head of nations! Proclaim! Praise! Say, Save, O LORD, your people, the remnant of Israel. (8) Behold, I am about to bring them from the land of the north, and I will gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them shall be the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together. As a great throng they shall return to this place. (9) With weeping they shall come, and with supplication I will lead them; I will guide them alongside streams of water, in a straight way in which they will not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My first-born.

COMMENTS

The journey home from exile would be particularly difficult for certain segments of the population. Nonetheless, those in distressthe blind, the lame, the woman travailing with childwill return with tears of joy and contrition upon their cheeks, and with supplications upon their lips. God will hear their prayers and will lead them in a straight way where there will be no danger of stumbling. He will lead them beside streams of water where they can find refreshment. How careful were the prophets to always include the distressed of humanity in God's program of salvation and deliverance. The reason for God's concern for the distressed is clearly stated: For I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My first-born. It is not entirely clear whether Israel in this verse is the entire nation, Judah or the Northern Kingdom. The concept of Israel as the son of God is as old as the accounts of the Exodus (Exodus 4:22). The heavenly Father will not allow His son, the spiritual remnant of the nation, to remain in captivity.