And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
The word came a second time while Jeremiah was still shut up in the court of the prison, kept under close surveillance during the third and last Chaldean siege of Jerusalem. It came in the closing years of Judah's apostasy, when hope had fled from every heart and utter ruin had been predicted. It was given so the faithful remnant still in the city would not be left to hopeless despair.
It confirms God's assurances of deliverance and restoration, as a fresh revelation of Heaven's willingness to forgive and to save. It promises that He would cause the captivity of both Judah and Israel to return, bringing them back and building them as at the first, as they were before. That rebuilding includes bringing health and cure and revealing abundance of peace and truth. It includes cleansing and pardoning all iniquity and sin committed against Him, and making them to Himself a name of joy and praise and honor before all nations.
It includes restoring to the desolate cities of Judah and to the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and gladness and of bridegroom and bride and of praise. It includes again filling the land with shepherds causing flocks to lie down. It includes performing the good thing promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
From that day to this it has been an unfailing source of comfort to the church of God. The promise made to Israel is also applied to institutions established for God's glory today.
The word came a second time while Jeremiah was still shut up in the court of the prison, kept under close surveillance during the third and last Chaldean siege of Jerusalem. It came in the closing years of Judah's apostasy, when hope had fled from every heart and utter ruin had been predicted. It was given so the faithful remnant still in the city would not be left to hopeless despair.
It confirms God's assurances of deliverance and restoration, as a fresh revelation of Heaven's willingness to forgive and to save. It promises that He would cause the captivity of both Judah and Israel to return, bringing them back and building them as at the first, as they were before. That rebuilding includes bringing health and cure and revealing abundance of peace and truth. It includes cleansing and pardoning all iniquity and sin committed against Him, and making them to Himself a name of joy and praise and honor before all nations.
It includes restoring to the desolate cities of Judah and to the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and gladness and of bridegroom and bride and of praise. It includes again filling the land with shepherds causing flocks to lie down. It includes performing the good thing promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
From that day to this it has been an unfailing source of comfort to the church of God. The promise made to Israel is also applied to institutions established for God's glory today.