Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 33

AN ASSURANCE OF RESTORATION

While Jeremiah is still being held captive in "the court of the guard" the word of the LORD comes to him again with a word of re­assurance which is set forth in this chapter.

1. First, the One who comes to Jeremiah identifies Himself as Jehovah, the Creator, whose purposes are so clearly established that they will not fail, (vs.2; Jeremiah 32:42; Isaiah 40:12-13; Isaiah 40:26; Jeremiah 10:16; Exodus 3:14­15; 6:3; 15:1-18).

2. He invites the perplexed prophet to "Call on me" and learn things that are "withheld" - inaccessible, unattainable, or hidden, (vs. 3; Jeremiah 29:12; Psalms 50:15; Isaiah 48:6; comp. Jeremiah 32:17; Jeremiah 32:27).

a. Jeremiah believes God, yet, he cannot understand how God is going to do what he promised concerning His people BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN!

b. God reveals His secrets to those who seek them, that they may rejoice and walk in His way, (Matthew 7:7; John 7:17)

3. The scriptures furnish numerous illustrations of men who have honestly stood before the Lord with frustrations and doubts; nor was one of them rebuked for so doing, (Job 12:6; Job 21:7; Psalms 73:14; Ecclesiastes 7:15; Jeremiah 12:1; Habakkuk 1:2-3).

1. Under the desperation of a terrible siege, the inhabitants of Jerusalem have torn down the royal buildings to build barricades and to reinforce the walls of the city against the embankments which the Babylonians have raised to the height of the city walls,(vs. 4; comp. Isaiah 32:13-14; Jeremiah 32:24; Ezekiel 4:1-3; Ezekiel 21:22-23; Habakkuk 1:5-10).

2. Because of her great wickedness, the Lord will bring an end to Jerusalem. (vs. 5a; Jeremiah 21:4-7; Jeremiah 32:5).

a. He will hide His face from her for a time, (vs. 5b; Jeremiah 21:10; Isaiah 59:1-2; Micah 3:4).

b. She will be filled with the bodies of those whom He slays in His furious wrath against her long accumulated iniquities.

c. It is often necessary for God to "pull down" and "destroy" before He can heal and build up!

3. But, God answers Jeremiah that He will bind up and heal the wound of His people, (vs. 6a; comp. Jeremiah 17:14; Jeremiah 30:17; Hosea 6:1-3) -revealing to them an abundance of peace and prosperity, (vs. 6b; Isaiah 48:18; Isaiah 66:12; Psalms 72:3-7).

4. It is always God’s desire that His people know joy, peace and gladness of heart (John 14:27; John 16:33; Galatians 5:22-23), and He takes such steps as are necessary to the ultimate experience of such in our lives.

Vs. 7-11: THROUGH CLEANSING COMES RESTORATION AND JOY

1. From the lands of their captivity, the Lord will restore His people to their own land, (vs. 7a, 26; Jeremiah 32:44; comp. Psalms 85:1-2) -building them as at the first, (vs. 7b; Jeremiah 30:18; Jeremiah 31:38; Amos 9:14-15).

2. Then they will find pardon and cleansing from all their sins, iniquities and transgressions, (vs. 8; Jeremiah 50:20; Isaiah 44:21-22; Ezekiel 36:25; Ezekiel 36:33; comp. Hebrews 9:11-14).

3. Jerusalem will then be a city of renown - bringing joy, honor and praise to Jehovah before all nations, (vs. 9a; 13:11; Isaiah 62:2-4); hearing of Jehovah’s goodness toward Israel, and of the great prosperity that He has given her, the nations will fear and tremble, (vs. 9b; Jeremiah 3:17-19; Jeremiah 4:1-2; Jeremiah 32:42; Nehemiah 6:16; Hosea 3:5).

4. When the captivity of Israel is ended, and she is restored to the land that has long been desolate and without inhabitant, the voice of joy and gladness, of the bridegroom and his bride, and the sacrificial voice of praise for Jehovah’s goodness and mercy will again be heard in His house, (vs. 10-11; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 51:3; Isaiah 51:11).

Vs. 12-13: JOY AND PEACE WILL MAKE PROSPERITY POSSIBLE

1. When the blessings of God rest upon His people and the land of promise, it will again become a habitation of shepherds who will cause( their flocks to lie down in peace. (vs. 12; Jeremiah 31:12-14; Isaiah 65:10; Ezekiel 34:12-14; Zephaniah 2:6-7).

a. It is not SAFE for men to prosper until they are cleansed and joyful in the Lord!

b. Though we manipulate and scheme, in order to obtain prosperity, it never abides unless rooted in such joy as enables men to dwell together in a mutuality of love and respect.

2. Throughout the land productive flocks will pass under the hand of faithful shepherds who, each evening, make sure that all are safely in the fold, (vs. 13; comp. Jeremiah 17:26; Luke 15:3-7).

Vs. 14-18: RESTORATION THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS

1. Here is re-assurance that the Lord will perform all He has promised to Israel and Judah, (vs. 14; comp. Jeremiah 32:42; Isaiah 32:1-2; Ezekiel 34:23-25).

2. The "Branch of Righteousness", which He will raise up unto David, is THE CHRIST - Who will execute judgment ano righteousness in the land, (vs. 15a; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Jeremiah 30:9; Isaiah 11:1-5; Luke 1:31­-33).

3. Though not giving as full a picture of the coming Messiah as was set forth by Isaiah, Jeremiah does provide numerous glimpses of him as:

a) The Fountain of Living waters, (Jeremiah 2:13); b) the Good Shepherd, (Jeremiah 23:4; Jeremiah 31:10); c) the righteous Branch, (Jeremiah 23:5); d) the Redeemer, (Jeremiah 50:34); e) the Lord our Righteousness, (Jeremiah 23:6); and f) David the King, (Jeremiah 30:9).

4. It is through Him that Judah will be delivered, and Jerusalem will be a city of peace, (vs. 16a; comp. Jeremiah 23:6; Isaiah 45:17; Isaiah 45:22); under the rule of "the LORD our righteousness" she will, henceforth, be called by His name, (vs. 16b; comp. 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-9) - being transformed by His righteous rule and power!

a. Those in a position to rejoice in such blessedness NOW are described by Paul as "Jerusalem which is above", and "free" -the church, which he further describes as "the mother of us all", (Galatians 4:26).

b. This is in contrast to Hagar - "Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children: - the nation in its present rebellion and unbelief, (Galatians 4:25).

c. If we claim to be a "covenant people" - identifying ourselves with the New Jerusalem - then we ought to be manifesting divine holiness (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 5:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Peter 1:15) and bearing witness to the righteousness of Christ in our daily walk.

5. Neither the throne of David nor the priesthood will lack a man to, faithfully, execute those offices again; the messianic David will be a priest upon His throne, (vs. 17-18; comp. Jeremiah 23:5-6; Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:5­10; Revelation 5:9-13; 1 Peter 2:9-10).

a. Verse 18 does not seem to require the restoration of literal blood sacrifices, upon a literal altar, in a literal temple, in Jerusalem.

b. As the restoration of the Davidic King and kingdom are to be fulfilled in the Christ, it seems reasonable to interpret this priesthood also finding its fulfillment in Him who sits as a priest upon His throne, (Hebrews 7:23-28; Zechariah 6:13).

Vs. 19-26: THE FAITHFULLNESS OF GOD’S COVENANT-PURPOSE

1. This section is, basically, a repetition of the principle that has already been stated (Jeremiah 31:35-37) - that God is absolutely faithful and true to His promises.

2. The stability of the cosmic order is urged as a basis of assurance that His promise concerning the Davidic house and throne, and the blessings awaiting those who minister before Him in priestly service, will not fail, (vs. 20-22).

3. As sure as tomorrow’s sunrise is God’s faithful adequacy to meet the needs of all those who place their trust in Him! (vs. 25; Jeremiah 31:35­-36).

4. Thus, the house of David, and.the whole house of Israel, may rest assured that their captivity will be turned to blessing; God WILL have mercy on them, (vs. 23-26; comp. Jeremiah 31:20; Isaiah 14:1; Isaiah 54:8; Ezekiel 39:25).