Right at the start of Jeremiah's calling he had been told he would destroy and tear down, but also plant and build up. He has done lots of tearing down. Now the building up and planting comes.
We now come to the heart of the matter, the new covenant. The days of judgement would come to an end and no longer would children be suffering for the sins of their parents (v29). Note that the salvation affects not just people, but animals as well (v27), maybe you will see your pet dog in heaven :-) (please don't read too much theologically into this last bit!).
How can this happen? Indeed, this is the whole problem of the Bible. The Bible is full of two totally contradictory themes. On the one hand there is the sin of all mankind, personified most clearly and vividly in the nation of Israel. On the other hand, there is the salvation and blessing, again personified most clearly and vividly in the nation of Israel. It is only in and through the cross that this paradox can be resolved.
God is going to make a new covenant (which we are now under). The old covenant basically said, if you obey me you will be blesses, if you don't you will be cursed. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 delineate this most clearly. In fact it always surprises me that some preachers are so keen to preach these chapters. Without the cross, these chapters leave us in a very bad place, for we have not fully obeyed the Lord and so we can expect only the curses. There is only One who has fully obeyed the Lord.
Under the new covenant the law would be written on our hearts and minds. We need a fundamental change in our nature, and that is what the Holy Spirit does. It is also a fundamental point of the gospel. The cross is not about being "let off" our sins, being allowed to get away with it. Rather it is forgiveness of our sins so we can receive the Holy Spirit, so a work of transformation can begin.
Under the new covenant we will know the Lord. We can still learn from each other, but we will have a personal relationship with God. Just think how amazing that is!
Our sins will be forgiven and remembered no more, but see that this comes with transformation.
How can this be? Verses 35 and 36 then remind us who the Lord is. He is the One who created all things, who maintains all things. He has firmly settled in His mind that He will do this, and He is well able to do it. Hallelujah!
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