Verse 15 is quoted in Matthew 2:18 in the context of Herod's killing of the infants. The immediate context seems to be more the sorrow for the many Israelites who died as a result of the Babylonians or were taken into exile. The time of suffering will come to an end. The ones who went off into exile will return.
Verses 18-20 stress the importance of repentance and the need to learn from discipline, to be restored by the Lord. This is fundamental, and if you listen to today's false teachers, and even those with "dodgy" views, you will find that often they do not accept the reality of our sin and sinfulness, nor the justice of God in judging our sin and sinfulness. It is only when we face up to this reality that we can receive and appreciate the mercy and goodness of God.
Verse 19 says that it is only when we repent that we have true understanding. In verse 20 we get the heart of God. He recognises our sin and speaks against it, yet it is done with a heart of compassion, with a heart that wants to forgive and restore.
Although they were being carted off into exile they should set up markers for the way back (v21). The exile was temporary.
The restoration would be to a time of peace and prosperity, living in fellowship with the Lord.
Evidently (v26) this had all been a dream, God had communicated to Jeremiah these words in a dream.
No comments:
Post a Comment