August 18, 2022

During Israel and Judah’s captivity in Babylon, Jeremiah gives the people hope for the return to their land. His words are not only beautiful and exciting, but he also predicts the future birth of our Messiah, that he should be born of a virgin. 

How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man.” Jeremiah 31:22

Where it says “a woman,” in this instance, according to my commentary, a woman is considered an unmarried virgin; otherwise, it would say ‘a wife.’ The words “encircles a man” means a pregnancy with a male child. Why, while telling about their release from captivity, does he predict the birth of Jesus? I think it’s because Jesus is our ultimate freedom. This same chapter talks about the new covenant; Jesus is the new covenant! The words that God gave him are so beautiful that Jeremiah woke up happy from dreaming.

For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me. Jeremiah 31:25-26

This chapter, by far, is my favorite of Jeremiah. I’ve been chewing on his words for a couple of days, so I haven’t written about it until today. Jeremiah went from weeping to gladness with good reason. Jesus is everyone’s source of peace, and Jeremiah hadn’t even met him yet. Find your rest in Jesus. The world is in chaos, but our hope is in Jesus and his return. Do not put down your weapons and continue to fight the good fight, but stay hopeful.