‘Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ 8See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.
“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping,Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” 16This is what the Lord says:“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. 17So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land. (Jeremiah 31)
Thoughts: These are verses of fruitfulness and hope. Jeremiah was writing this before his people were taken into captivity. He was giving them the promise that even if they were taken away, they would be brought back.
Jeremiah was using the image of motherhood to bring both sadness and hope. Rachel was weeping for her children refusing to be comforted (vs. 15). This is true sadness. A mother's sadness for her missing children. The Lord comforts these mothers with the promise of descendants and a return. The promise of heaven enables us to be comforted when our children die, leave, or move away. In heaven love will be returned and death has no power.
But this also is a promise for now. The Lord says His remnant. The church may be reduced to a remnant- but God brings the church back. Interestingly, God brings back not just the healthy but the weak (blind and lame and the pregnant). When the war came, all these vulnerable people were put to the sword. That pregnant women are there is a sign that the young will return to the Lord. This is the sign that the Lord will bring up a new generation who will be faithful to Him- even if the old is unfaithful. This is our prayer for 2015 in America. God renew your remnant and restore your people who have faith in you.
Jeremiah was using the image of motherhood to bring both sadness and hope. Rachel was weeping for her children refusing to be comforted (vs. 15). This is true sadness. A mother's sadness for her missing children. The Lord comforts these mothers with the promise of descendants and a return. The promise of heaven enables us to be comforted when our children die, leave, or move away. In heaven love will be returned and death has no power.
But this also is a promise for now. The Lord says His remnant. The church may be reduced to a remnant- but God brings the church back. Interestingly, God brings back not just the healthy but the weak (blind and lame and the pregnant). When the war came, all these vulnerable people were put to the sword. That pregnant women are there is a sign that the young will return to the Lord. This is the sign that the Lord will bring up a new generation who will be faithful to Him- even if the old is unfaithful. This is our prayer for 2015 in America. God renew your remnant and restore your people who have faith in you.
Prayer: Lord, comfort mothers and restor your people. You are the rebuilder and renewer of hearts.
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