How Tragedy paved the way to Truth: Jeremiah #19
Jeremiah 29 and 30 paving the way to the New Covenant Heart
HI EVERYONE, thanks for being here: The last post we saw how Jeremiah wrote a letter of advice to the exiles in Babylon: To be involved in, and to pray for the welfare of their local society - but at the same time, NOT to forget their homeland.
Let’s think for a moment: Don’t we have the same calling? To live and thrive in our communities but NOT to be swallowed up by the opinions, philosophies and attractions, that draw us away from the Heavenly vision? For the people of Judah, only a small remnant would listen to Jeremiah’s advice, and this post is to encourage us to be the remnant who keep the vision, despite the difficulties!
HE CAN TURN TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH
“Woah, Take it easy Jerry, everything will turn out OK!” I imagine the false optimism of the crowd in Jeremiah’s day. I’m sure many Israelite’s thought he was overreacting when he warned them of the judgement to come, but now — the very worst had come true. They are exiles in Babylon.
Take a moment to think what it means, to lose your home, your city, your country. In this tragedy - Jeremiah comes to remind them that God is with them in the storm, to encourage them to remain faithful, and to watch as GOD would turn a tragic situation into something beautiful. In fact, from our privileged position of hindsight, Jeremiah was pointing to ‘the Better Way’1 back to God. Listen to the whispers of the New Covenant as we approach what I would call the climax of the Old Testament.
Even though their beloved city would burn to the ground, their Temple destroyed, God hints toward the original plan, aimed at the very heart of each man. Jeremiah, having witnessed the powerlessness of outward reform to change the heart of men, starts to see a beacon of Hope. I think it is amazing that at the lowest point of failure, the proof that Judah could not fulfill the Old (Mosaic) Covenant — Jeremiah begins to see the light of God’s complete salvation plan.
KEEP THE VISION
Yes! God had given a vision to His people. Rewind a little, and listen to this ‘heart cry,’ as the people of Judah were being force marched 500 miles to Babylon, the smoke of Jerusalem’s ruins behind them. Having lost all. We have Psalm 137, to remind us of a truth that stands for every Christian striving for His Kingdom, in enemy occupied territory (earth).
“… If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill, If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth — if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my chief Joy”
I imagine Jeremiah listening to this Psalm, wanting to save the people from drowning in the streams of Babylon. TO save them from being washed away in it’s magical waters. He writes to remind them of the river of God that flows forever.
So with the noise of pagan rites, where truth gave way to opinion and knowledge, amidst the smell of foreign spices — would there be any place left for the Most High who had brought His people from slavery in Egypt for a greater purpose?
After all, the Mosaic covenant had no command over the lives of men within the vibrant streets of Babylon. There was no alter for the High priest to stand before on behalf of the people. In this place that screamed for compromise, what would the God Fearing man do? Come Jeremiah, who writes a letter, and in it starts to point to The Better Way. A covenant that went deeper than geography and the strength of men. A covenant not written on tablets of stone, but inscribed on the heart.2 An eternal covenant with eternal promise, something worth living for!
THE PROMISE TO COME
Like precious jewels waiting to be discovered in the dirt and dust of tragedy and darkness, Jeremiah’s letter begins to tell of a future for God’s people, and with it a call to persevere in faithfulness. Come, and behold this awesome thing that God Himself will do, come and be a part of it, too:
Jeremiah 29: 12 - 14a
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord …
Jeremiah 30: 8 - 9
‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’
Says the Lord of hosts,
‘That I will break his yoke from your neck,
And will burst your bonds;
Foreigners shall no more enslave them.
But they shall serve the Lord their God,
And David their king, (David was long dead, this refers to Jesus Christ),
Whom I will raise up for them.
Jeremiah 30: 21 - 22
Their prince shall be one of themselves;
their ruler shall come out from their midst;
I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me,
for who would dare of himself to approach me?
declares the Lord.
And you shall be my people,
and I will be your God.”
HOPE IN WRATH, WRATH BEFORE PEACE
And so, amidst exile in a foreign land, within the storm of trial and persecution, from the ashes and ruins of “the City of Peace” - Yes, even as His anger poured out on injustice and perversion3 — God gives a vision to run with, a hope to hold onto, a New Covenant believe in, and a Prince to Behold.
So my friends, hold onto God’s vision and persevere in His calling. He has showed himself faithful to these exiles … and He will show Himself faithful to us, as we live for a City whose Builder and Maker is God.
Let us pray
Our Father in Heaven, as I am a pilgrim on earth, shew me more of your upward calling in Christ.
That like Him who endured the cross for the Joy set before Him
I too may joyfully endure trials and persecution, and stand firm unto the end.
May your name be exalted, Amen
Read through the book of Hebrews and underline how many times the Messianic Covenant is called ‘Better’ than the covenant made with Moses.
Interesting to note that, from my understanding: The Synagogue, as we know it today, began during this time of exile. When there was no Temple, and the Jewish people wanted to preserve their hope in God, and keep His vision as handed down to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Could this too have been a preparation for believers in Christ and the Church to be built as we see in the book of Acts?
Jeremiah 30: 23 and 24
Behold the storm of the Lord!
Wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest;
it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he has executed and accomplished
the intentions of his mind.
In the latter days you will understand this.