Jump Start # 149 

Jeremiah 31:33-34 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ declares the Lord,’ for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

  The book of Jeremiah contains plenty of gloom and doom. God was disappointed with the nation. The people of Judah were simply not committed to the Lord. Coming punishment and captivity is prophesied. In many ways Jeremiah is a sad book. But sprinkled throughout the end of the book is the rising sun on the horizon. “Behold, days are coming” God declares in 31:31. He is referring to the days of the Messiah, Jesus.

  Our passage is a prophecy about the changes that would take place when Jesus came. There are three new things coming with the Messiah.

  First, a new covenant or law. It will be the covenant of the Messiah. We simply call it the New Testament. The book of Hebrews shows that the first law would be done away and the new covenant enacted. Hebrews tells us a death must take place for this to be accomplished. Jesus died. The new covenant took place as the apostles preached in Acts 2.

  The second new thing that came with the Messiah was the means in which the new law became a part of them. The text states that God would write upon their heart and they will not teach again his neighbor or brother. This is stated in contrast to what the nation of Israel experienced with the law of Moses. Under that system, a person was born a Jew. By birth he was in the covenant relationship. As he grew he had to be taught. With Jesus it is just the opposite. One is not born naturally into a relationship with God. It is a matter of choice and decision of the will. He is taught first. He obeys Jesus and is born again. Then he is in a covenant relationship with God. He doesn’t need to be taught because he knows. He has obeyed.

  Thirdly, is the wonderful promise of forgiveness of sins, “I will forgive their iniquity.” The days came and Jesus paid the price for our sins. Forgiveness is such a sweet relationship. The fear of punishment is gone, because you have been forgiven. Shame and guilt have been replaced with love and acceptance. The image of the prodigal coming home, head bowed down, tears streaming from his eyes, expecting a stern lecture if not complete rejection, only to be shocked to see the father running with open arms. An embrace. A call for a celebration. Joy and happiness fill the air. Sandals are put on the dirty feet, a ring on the finger that has recently fed pigs, and a robe around the shoulders of a tired, failed and defeated young man. Forgiveness is sweet. We sometimes fail to see the sandals on our feet and the ring on our finger placed there by the God of Heaven.

  We wonder what the people of Jeremiah’s day thought of these promises of the coming Messiah. Were they excited? Did they wish it happened in their life time? Were they confused? We are on the other side of the cross than they were. We enjoy these wonderful blessings of God. God is good to us!

Roger