Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
31:31-33 "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah…I will put my law in their minds and write it on
their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
This is the only place in the OT where the term 'new covenant' appears.
(From Constable's Commentary) It [obeying the law] will become part of the nature of God's people. It will be instinctive… In the old covenant, the law with its requirements is the impelling force, in the new covenant, the grace shown in the forgiveness of sins is the aiding power…
The old covenant requirements were an external impelling force the new covenant is an instinctive internal force.
31:31-33 "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah…I will put my law in their minds and write it on
their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
This is the only place in the OT where the term 'new covenant' appears.
(From Constable's Commentary) It [obeying the law] will become part of the nature of God's people. It will be instinctive… In the old covenant, the law with its requirements is the impelling force, in the new covenant, the grace shown in the forgiveness of sins is the aiding power…
The old covenant requirements were an external impelling force the new covenant is an instinctive internal force.
32:8 Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, 'Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.' I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
Hanamel offers Jeremiah a completely worthless piece of land because Anathoth was already in Babylonians hands and Jeremiah would not be able to possess it. As an act of faith in God's restoration Jeremiah buys it but ask God why (v.16-25). God's replies (v.26-44) with amazing promises of restoration.
God calls us to live by faith and act as if the future is here.
32:8 Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, 'Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.' I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
Hanamel offers Jeremiah a completely worthless piece of land because Anathoth was already in Babylonians hands and Jeremiah would not be able to possess it. As an act of faith in God's restoration Jeremiah buys it but ask God why (v.16-25). God's replies (v.26-44) with amazing promises of restoration.
God calls us to live by faith and act as if the future is here.
33:9 Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.
This is what God always intended, that Jerusalem (Israel) would show the world how good it is to live under the government of God.
God's government is good. One day everyone will know it.
33:9 Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.
This is what God always intended, that Jerusalem (Israel) would show the world how good it is to live under the government of God.
God's government is good. One day everyone will know it.
34:17 Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.
The people of Jerusalem freed their slaves (v. 8) and entered into a covenant at the temple (v. 15). Perhaps this was during the siege when they couldn't feed them since later they changed their minds and took them back (v. 11). Perhaps this was during the respite from the siege (v. 21). They may have thought that everything was going to return to normal.
Maybe God allowed the respite to show how shallow their repentance had been.
34:17 Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.
The people of Jerusalem freed their slaves (v. 8) and entered into a covenant at the temple (v. 15). Perhaps this was during the siege when they couldn't feed them since later they changed their minds and took them back (v. 11). Perhaps this was during the respite from the siege (v. 21). They may have thought that everything was going to return to normal.
Maybe God allowed the respite to show how shallow their repentance had been.
35:14 Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me.
Such a contrast between the obedience of Jehonadab (Rekabites) and the disobedience of the Israelites as Constable points out in his commentary:
Rekabites obeyed a fallible leader, they received the commandment once, the restriction didn't deal with eternal issues and they obeyed for about 300 years. Their loyalty was rewarded.
Judah disobeyed God, they received the commandments repeatedly, they dealt with eternal issues and they disobeyed constantly. Their disobedience was punished.
35:14 Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me.
Such a contrast between the obedience of Jehonadab (Rekabites) and the disobedience of the Israelites as Constable points out in his commentary:
Rekabites obeyed a fallible leader, they received the commandment once, the restriction didn't deal with eternal issues and they obeyed for about 300 years. Their loyalty was rewarded.
Judah disobeyed God, they received the commandments repeatedly, they dealt with eternal issues and they disobeyed constantly. Their disobedience was punished.