Restoration of Israel

Jeremiah 30

The next four chapters go together, and we see from chapter 32 that this takes place “in the 10th year” as Nebuchadnezzar is at the gates.

  • 30:2 “Write in a book” - not just for when Judah returned from captivity, but for us and for the “latter days”.
  • 30:6 “can a male give birth?” - I kid, but that also seems like a hint of the last days.
  • 30:7 “none will be like it” - language describing the great tribulation. Matthew 24:21 “he will be saved out of it” - not just from it, but this last trouble will finally bring all Israel to accept their Messiah.

Much of the following prophecies have the last days in view, but are also fulfilled in a lesser way with the return under Ezra and Nehemiah.

  • 30:8 “on that day .. I will break the yoke off their necks” - yes God will break the yoke, not now, but in the last days.
  • 30:9 “and David their king whom I will raise up” - while nearly all commentators opine that “David” represents Christ the Son of David, it literally says “David” and “whom I will raise up”. I’m going with what the prophet said.
  • 30:10 “as for you .. do not fear” - back to the present, but also looking forward to the last days. Yes, your king will opt to destroy Jerusalem - but do not fear, for the captives will return to their land.
  • 30:11 “I will completely destroy the nations” - Assyria, gone. Babylon, gone. “by no means leave you unpunished” - Israel will not be completely destroyed, but will not escape their punishment.
  • 30:14 “all your lovers have forgotten you” - all those treaties with Egypt and the neighboring kingdoms. Today also, allies are forgetting Israel.
  • 30:15 “because of your great iniquity” - Israel’s punishment must go forward.
  • 30:16 “all who devour you will be devoured” - this was a promise to Abraham and has been true throughout history and is still true today. Genesis 12:3
  • 30:23 “the storm of the Lord” - Back to the present. God is uprooting the old world order and will punish the wicked. But also looking forward to the destructions of the last days.
  • 30:24 “in the days to come you will understand” - and we’ll understand it all by and by.