The Lord forges a new covenant

JEREMIAH     CHAPTER 31

In the days of restoration, the Lord will be the God of all of Israel and he will care for the survivors as they travel through the wilderness. Long ago he loved the people with an everlasting love and drew them to himself and now he will rebuild the virgin Israel.  Now he tells them to sing for joy, for he will bring them from the distant corners of the earth. As they walk beside quiet streams, they will not stumble for he is Israel's father and Ephraim is his oldest child.

The Lord continues to talk of joy and songs and dancing by the young women. Of men, young and old, joining in the celebration. He talks of the comfort he will give them and he will exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.

In Ramah, says the Lord, a cry is heard. Rachel weeps for her children, for they are dead. But the Lord promises Israel's children will come back to their own land. Though he disciplined the people severely, the people knew they deserved it. He hears the people who were ashamed of what they did.

Then Jeremiah awoke and heard the Lord tell of the increase in population and livestock in Isreal and Judah. He spoke of a new covenant he will make with the people of Israel and Judah. He would put his laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. The Lord says that the time is comng when all Jerusalem will be rebuilt for him and all the valleys and fields surrounding will be holy to the Lord. The city will never again be captured or destroyed.

BIBLE NOTES: The old covenant, broken by the people, would be replaced by a new covenant and the foundation is Christ. A revolutionary covenant involving Israel, Judah and even the Gentiles.

Rachel, mentioned in verse 15, was the symbolic mother of the northern tribes which were taken into captivity by the Assryians. She is pictured crying for the exiles at their deportation.  And ths same verse is used in Matthew 2:18 to describe the sadness of the mothers of Bethlehem as the male children were killed.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? It was in those days a unique thing to have God's laws written on the individual's hearts instead of on stone, like the commandments. But for us in our world today, this covenant is already here. His word is in our hearts and we can have a relationship with our God through prayer.

In this chapter we learn that God is making a promise to not reject Israel any longer. In our day, he will not reject us either. Remember to keep your personal relationship with God, keep the covenant with your Lord.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our famers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.