Reflections on Jeremiah 30

Jeremiah 30 (Contemporary English Version)
1. The LORD God of Israel said, "Jeremiah, get a scroll and write down everything I have told you.
   
2. (SEE 30:1)
   
3. Someday I will let my people from both Israel and Judah return to the land I gave their ancestors."
   
4. Then the LORD told me to say to Israel and Judah: I, the LORD, hear screams of terror, and there is no peace.
   
5. (SEE 30:4)
   
6. Can men give birth? Then why do I see them looking so pale and clutching their stomachs like women in labor?
   
7. My people, soon you will suffer worse than ever before, but I will save you.
   
8. Now you are slaves of other nations, but I will break the chains and smash the yokes that keep you in slavery.
   
9. Then you will be my servants, and I will choose a king for you from the family of David. *
   
10. Israel, you belong to me, so don't be afraid. You deserved to be punished; that's why I scattered you in distant nations. But I am with you, and someday I will destroy those nations.
    
11. Then I will bring you and your descendants back to your land, where I will protect you and give you peace. Then your fears will be gone. I, the LORD, have spoken.
    
12. The LORD said: My people, you are wounded and near death.
    
13. You are accused of a crime with no one to defend you, and you are covered with sores that no medicine can cure. *
    
14. Your friends have forgotten you; they don't care anymore. Even I have acted like an enemy. And because your sins are horrible and countless, I will be cruel as I punish you.
    
15. So don't bother to cry out for relief from your pain.
    
16. But if your enemies try to rob or destroy you, I will rob and destroy them, and they will be led as captives to foreign lands.
    
17. No one wants you as a friend or cares what happens to you. But I will heal your injuries, and you will get well.
    
18. The LORD said: Israel, I will be kind to you and let you come home. Jerusalem now lies in ruins, but you will rebuild it, complete with a new palace.
    
19. Other nations will respect and honor you. Your homes will be filled with children, and you will celebrate, singing praises to me.
    
20. It will be just like old times. Your nation will worship me, and I will punish anyone who abuses you.
    
21. One of your own people will become your ruler. And when I invite him to come near me at the place of worship, he will do so. No one would dare to come near without being invited.
    
22. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I, the LORD, have spoken.
    
23. I am furious! And like a violent storm I will strike those who do wrong.
    
24. I won't calm down until I have finished what I have decided to do. Someday, you will understand what I mean.

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Jeremiah's book is not written in chronological order so it is difficult to know exactly at what time this chapter was written. The previous chapter took place after Judah had been defeated by Babylon and exiles were taken into Babylon. This chapter may have been written just prior to Babylon's attack on Judah. This pending disaster was likely evident to Judah, and it was in the backdrop of this disaster that God gave hope to Judah that her destruction would not be complete and she would one day be restored. Jeremiah speaks of two "days" to refer to two different time periods. The first day is the day of destruction, while the second day is the day of restoration. This day of restoration has an eschatological perspective to it, for the promises made in relation to this day are not all yet fulfilled.

In the first section of the chapter God explained through Jeremiah that it was necessary for Judah be punished. And the coming punishment would be terrible - so terrible that it would seem there was no hope for survival. But God wanted them to know there was hope, He was not through with them. He would restore them, both to favor with Him and to their former blessings. Punishment was necessary, God could not turn His back on their sin. He said, "I will by no means leave you unpunished." But He added, "I will discipline you justly." (30:11) Does this mean that those nations God used to bring about Judah's punishment were justified in their destruction of Judah? By no means. Their motives were not pure or godly in any respect. God used them for His purposes, but it was their wickedness, not their righteousness, that He used. The positive side of this is that with God's involvement their wickedness was not allowed its full intent. God placed limitations on it. Plus, when Judah's punishment was complete, He then brought judgment on those nations whose wickedness was used for Judah's punishment. I don't think the words "holy" and "war" can be placed together thus describing a war as holy. I think, instead, war is a result of man's sinfulness that God at times uses for His purposes. There can even be good outcomes from such wars for those who seek God's purposes for themselves, but I don't think any war can be described as good or as holy.

As the chapter continues, God told Judah that the time will come for them when there will seem to be no hope. As 30:12 says, it will seem that "Your injury is incurable; your wound most severe." But there was hope. God said, "I will certainly restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and show compassion on his dwellings. Every city will be rebuilt on its mound; every citadel will stand on its proper site. (30:18) Though it is true that both Judah and Israel were restored to their land following their exiles, the promises of a fully restored, unified nation that has turned back completely to the Lord has not yet fully occurred. The promises of this chapter and the next three will not be fully accomplished until the reign of the Messiah.