Logo
 About Us Services MinistriesSermon Message Bible StudyChurch Calendar Contact Us


Quote

Statement of Faith

The Four Most Important Things We Could Ever Tell You

Listen to this week's message!

Map to the Church

Prayer Requests

Enhance your daily reading of God's word. Click here for free, printable Bible Reading and Prayer Journal sheets!

Wednesday AM Bible Study Archives

 

"God's Message to People in Ruins"
Jeremiah 33

Wednesday AM Bible Study
April 6, 2005

This is the second of the prison prophecies (chp. 32-33). In chapter 32, God promises that the people will experience judgment in being given over to the Babylonians (32:26-35). He repeats this promise in 33:4-5; and the people - seeing the destruction coming - consider that God had abandoned them (33:23-24). But then comes this great word of promised hope and future glory.

This promise involves two stages: (1) the promised restoration of the nation now in judgment (vv. 6-13), and the promise of the future reigned of the King come from David (vv. 14-18). It's 'book-ended' by a strong affirmation of the certainty of this promise: (1) God being able to do what He says (vv. 1-3), and (2) the creation itself serving as the promissory note (vv. 19-26).

I. THE GOD WHO PROMISES HOPE (vv. 1-3).
A. The context of the giving of this promise is Jeremiah's imprisonment (v. 1; see 32:1-2).

B. The promise is made by YHWH ("LORD") - God's covenant name (Ex. 3:13-14), by which He has identified Himself as Israel's Deliverer (v. 2). The "it" speaks of His intended deliverance described in 32:36-44. "It" seems like a remote possibility; but God speaks of it is if it had already been done.

C. This God invites His perplexed people to call on Him (v. 3). He promises to show them "great" and "mighty" (or inaccessible or hidden) things which they do not know. This God who promises has ways to bring about His plans - ways that are unknown to us, but that will be performed by Him if we call out to Him.

II. THE HOPE THAT GOD PROMISES (vv. 4-18).

A. The present situation seemed hopeless (vv. 4-5). God had promised destruction. Even though they pull down the houses to use the materials to fortify themselves against the siege works of Babylon, the places of the houses will be filled with dead bodies. This is because God will judge them in His anger.

B. But He calls His people to "behold" His promise in the expression of His anger (v. 6). He expressed hope to them in two promises:

1. That the nation will be restored to glory (vv. 6-13):
a. Healing the nation (v. 6).

b. Restoring the captives (v. 7).

c. Cleansing them of their sin (v. 8).

d. Bringing them prosperity (v. 9).

e. Removing the curse He had placed on them (vv. 10-11; see also 7:34; 16:9; 25:10-11).

f. Restoring the flocks (vv. 12-13).

2. That the King from David would reign (vv. 14-18).

a. The "day is coming" in which, in the context of the restored land, God will fulfill His promise to David (2 Sam. 7:12-16) - and then to Israel, and particularly to he house of Judah (v. 14).

b. The promise of vv. 15-16 is like that made in 23:5-6. But in this case, the focus is on the people of God. In 23:5-6, it is Messiah who is called "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (YHWH Tsidkenu); but here, that name is placed on His people (see Rev. 22:3-4; also 2:17; 3:12).

c. It is asserted that David will never lack a king to sit on his throne, nor will the Levites lack a man to offer before God (vv. 17-18). These promises are fulfilled in Christ (Psalm 110:6; Heb. 7:22-25; 9:11-12; 10:11-13).

III. THE CERTAINTY OF THE HOPE PROMISED (vv. 19-26).

A. The promise is made as certain as the covenant God has made with creation (vv. 19-21; see also Gen. 8:20-22).

B. The promise is even expanded in that there will be an innumerable host of kings and priests (1 Peter 2:9-10; Rev. 1:6; 5:9-10).

C. The people, in their distress, have assumed that God had abandoned them (vv. 23-24). How untrue!! God assures them - based on the above oath that He makes, that it will happen (vv. 25-26).

* * * * * * * * * *

What is the best way to respond to all this? It's to take seriously God's offer and take Him up on it: "Call on Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (v. 3).

Printable Version

           
Bethany Bible Church, 18245 NW Germantown Road, Portland, OR 97231 / 503.645.1436

Site Map | Privacy Policy | Copyright Information