Jeremiah 31:16, commentary and pictures

Thus saith the LORD to refrain from weeping is part of the prophecy of Israel's restoration, confirming that the promised return of the captives from Babylon is sure. It points beyond present distress to the future restoration of God's people, when they will be ransomed from the enemy's land and planted again in Zion as God renews His covenant with them and brings an end to their sorrow. The land of the enemy is death and the grave, where the dead lie at rest side by side until Jesus the Life-giver returns to bring them out again in the resurrection.

The command to refrain the voice from weeping and the eyes from tears is comfort in sorrow because grief for children will end and sorrow will not last and will not be final. To Rachel's grieving children it promises that their sorrow will not last, and to grieving parents that their children will be restored. The little ones who were slain are represented among the redeemed, linked to the company of little ones seen with the martyrs whose garments also bear a red hem. Dorcas's restoration to life illustrates the same promise of comfort in sorrow, reward for faithful work, and return from the enemy's land.

Faithful work will be rewarded, and the work of love and the moral and religious training of parents in their children will receive its reward. To weeping mothers this is hope that the children will come again to their own border, and to those grieving children lost to death it is assurance of seeing and recognizing their little ones again in heaven. The children will come again from the land of the enemy to their own border and be restored to their parents at Christ's return, when He will raise the dead, defeat death, and restore to His servants the children taken from them by death. For bereaved parents this gives assurance that they will see and recognize their little ones again in heaven.

For faithful parents mourning a believing son and brother, he is now safely beyond all anxiety for him so no more anxious tears need be shed for him. He will be brought back from death, the enemy, in a joyful resurrection to glory, honor and immortality, and that reunion is soon to come and will then be eternal. The slain little ones are represented among the redeemed, linked to the company of little ones seen with the martyrs whose garments also bear a red hem. The Shunammite's faith was rewarded when Elisha restored her son to life, offering a picture of that future reunion when death is defeated and Christ restores children to parents.

The restoration of Dorcas from death illustrates the promise, for God brought her back from death so that her skill and energy could continue to bless others and strengthen the cause of Christ. The promise comforts bereaved mothers with hope that children who have died will come back from the land of the enemy and be restored. It connects children's safety with parental faithfulness and care: faithful parents are to teach their children obedience, while neglecting their discipline and character formation leaves them unprepared for the test of life.