GOD will ultimately PRESERVE HIS PEOPLE
August 22 Bible Reading: Jeremiah Chapters 46-48
GOD will ultimately PRESERVE HIS PEOPLE
"But do not fear, O My servant Jacob,
and do not be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from afar, and
your offspring from the land of their captivity; Jacob shall return, have rest
and be at ease; no one shall make him afraid. Do not fear, O Jacob My servant”
says the Lord, "for I am with you; for I will make a complete end of all
the nations to which I have driven you, but I will not make a complete end of
you. I will rightly correct you, for I will not leave you wholly unpunished."
(Jer 46:27-28)
The book of Jeremiah has not been arranged chronologically
otherwise this section (chapters 46-49) should have historically followed the
events of chapter 25 where Jeremiah anticipated the Babylonian conquest (Jer
25:9).
The passage above is a repeat from Jeremiah 30:10, 11, with
only a slight variation. These are the words of comfort to Israel, for God will
not forget His covenant with its promises of protection, peace, and prosperity
(see Gen. 9:13). The purpose of God’s chastisement is to refine His people. The
word “correct” (v. 28b) denotes discipline, which will be done justly. This prophecy has a double
fulfillment—one in the return from exile and the other still in the future
(Rom. 11:1–5, 26–32).
God is still Israel’s covenant God who will deal with a
righteous remnant by restoring it to the land in accordance with his
unconditional promises of old. In contrast with Egypt, who would be taken into
exile, Israel was not to fear or be dismayed. In the midst of international chaos,
Israel had a sure promise of the presence of the Lord and of survival. The
destroyers will themselves be destroyed, but God will have compassion on His
own. Israel could look forward to a time when she would enjoy “peace and
security.” A remnant would survive to receive again God’s blessings. As the ‘new Israel’ the Church of God can also
relate to these promises of God.
When the Church (and literal Israel) might seem utterly consumed, there still remains hope because God will even raise His people from the dead (Romans 11:15) and ultimately preserve His people. Through this passage, God gave a message of peace to His people in captivity: they would return to their land and be established again. They had to be corrected in love, but they would not be destroyed: “I will save you . . . I am with you” - What words of encouragement!
