Jeremiah 31:12-15 - I will turn their mourning into gladness

31:12-14

Zion is the city of God, they will rejoice in the  bounty of the Lord. We find truly good things in the hands of the Lord. When we follow our own inclinations something may seem attractive, but it will soon turn sour. With the Lord we find everlasting joy. Look at the description here. Sometimes people paint the Christian life as utterly joyless, and there are a number of Christians who reinforce this view! But it is not a Biblical picture. Here there is joy, dancing, young and old, there is new wine. Joy is the gift of God.

31:15

This verse is quoted by Matthew in the context of the flight to Egypt. In some ways it seems out of place here, but when we come to the next verse the purpose will become clear. The people were mourning, for it seemed that all was lost. The next verse will tell us the truth.