Jeremiah 32:31

Did God delight in Zion (Jerusalem) or did it provoke His anger?

PROBLEM: The psalmist declared that “the Lord loves the gates of Zion.” (Psalms 87:2). In fact, “the Lord has chosen Zion … [as] My resting place forever” (Psalms 132:13-14). But, in this text, Jeremiah quotes God as saying, “This city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My fury from the day that they built it, even to this day.” Well, then, does God delight in Zion forever, or has He been provoked by it from the beginning?

SOLUTION: Actually both are true, whether taken in a spiritual sense or in a literal sense. Some scholars take thisspiritually, as a reference to God’s eternal blessing on His heavenly Zion, the church (cf. Hebrews 12:22; Rev. 21–22).

Other Bible scholars understand this literally as yet to be fulfilled when Israel is restored to their land forever as God promised (see comments on Romans 11:26). Accordingly, the city of Jerusalem which was chosen by God as the capital of His people Israel was a perpetual pain to God. But, when the Messiah returns to set up His throne and reign there (cf. Zech. 13–14; Matthew 19:28), it will be a source of endless delight to God.