Jeremias 33

Jeremias 33

Cole - Jeremiah 32:1-25 - The Man Who Bought Property In A War Zone Charles Simeon - Jeremiah 30:10, 11.God’s gracious Designs towards his chosen People Charles Simeon - Jeremiah 30:17.The Conversion of the Jews—our Duty to promote it Charles Simeon - Jeremiah 31:7–9.The Restoration of the Jews Charles Simeon - Jeremiah 32:37–42.The future Conversion of the Jews Charles Simeon - Jeremiah 33:6–9.Conversion of the Jews of Importance to God and Man Jeremiah 33:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard, saying, Jeremiah 33 concludes the “The Book of Consolation" (Jeremiah 30-33) Date: Circa 587-588 BC Then - The idea is that something occurs after something else or next in sequence. Shepherd's Notes - God had made wonderful long-term promises to Israel. They could look forward to a future brighter than their present. Throughout their history, though, Israel had failed to trust the Lord's word, for they had refused to believe that God is trustworthy. Therefore, this chapter focuses on God's character. It emphasizes that the God who promises is the God who keeps His promises. God's nature guarantees the truthfulness of His statements. (see Hebrews 6:17-18) Adam Clarke gives us a good summary of Jeremiah 33 as it predicts the glorious future of the literal nation of Israel - In this chapter the prophet predicts a restoration of Israel and Judah to the favor of God, attended with such glorious circumstances as shall astonish all the world, Jeremiah 33:1-9. Their prosperity from that period is then described by a beautiful enumeration of circumstances, Jeremiah 33:10-13. This leads to the promise of the Messiah, the grand subject of the prophetical writings, and the happiness and stability which the children of Israel shall enjoy under his government; promises which, in so far as they respect the great body of the Jews, remain still to be fulfilled, Jeremiah 33:14-26. (Jeremiah 33 Commentary) Sadly some respected older writers like Matthew Henry see these literal promises to Israel in Jeremiah 33 as "a reference as far forward as to the gospel church." The point is that you need to be very discerning in reading commentaries (old and new) on prophetic passages that were given directly to Israel as there is a definite tendency of many commentaries to interpret these literal promises to Israel as being fulfilled in the Church! In short, be a Berean (Acts 17:11-note). The word of the LORD came - This phrase is found 102x in the Bible all in the Old Testament with 21 of those passages in Jeremiah (NAS) - Ge 15:1, 4; 1Sa 15:10; 2Sa 7:4; 24:11; 1Ki 6:11; 13:20; 16:1; 17:2, 8; 18:1; 19:9; 21:17, 28; 2Ki 20:4; 1Chr 22:8; 2Chr 11:2; 12:7; Isa 38:4; Jer 1:2, 4, 11, 13; 2:1; 13:3, 8; 18:5; 24:4; 28:12; 32:6, 26; 33:1, 19, 23; 34:12; 35:12; 36:27; 37:6; 42:7; 43:8; Ezek 1:3; 3:16; 6:1; 7:1; 11:14; 12:1, 8, 17, 21, 26; 13:1; 14:2, 12; 15:1; 16:1; 17:1, 11; 18:1; 20:2, 45; 21:1, 8, 18; 22:1, 17, 23; 23:1; 24:1, 15, 20; 25:1; 26:1; 27:1; 28:1, 11, 20; 29:1, 17; 30:1, 20; 31:1; 32:1, 17; 33:1, 23; 34:1; 35:1; 36:16; 37:15; 38:1; Jonah 1:1; 3:1; Hag 1:1, 3; 2:1, 10, 20; Zech 1:1, 7; 4:8; 7:1, 8. The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah - This phrase is found 11x in 11v (NAS) - Jer 28:12; 32:26; 33:1, 19, 23; 34:12; 35:12; 36:27; 37:6; 42:7; 43:8. Jer 33. The related phrase "the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD" is found in Jeremiah 7:1 and Jeremiah 32:1. Paul though imprisoned affirmed that the God's Word is not bound calling for Timothy to "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my Gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. " (2Ti 2:8-9) Don't miss the principle beloved - You may be in a prison, literal or figurative, but no "bars" can bar the Almighty from speaking words to you and in this chapter while they begin with judgment the emphasis is on restoration and reassurance which is what the Father wants to speak to you. 2 Chronicles 36:12 describes "Jeremiah the prophet who spoke for the LORD." For a prophet to speak for the LORD, he must receive a word from the LORD as described in this passage (and Jer 32:1). Peter affirms that we "know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." (2Peter 1:20-21) So what we are reading in Jeremiah 33 is the result of God's Spirit moving the prophet to record these words from God. Recall that a prophet in the Bible had two basic functions - (1) To speak forth and (2) to speak before. In other words the prophet was to speak God's message to His people usually in the form of an exhortation but at times he would also foretell future events. The content of Jeremiah 30-33 is predominantly foretelling of future events. As we study this great section, we do well to recall that Jeremiah was a Jew speaking to literal Jewish people foretelling then what would transpire to their literal Jewish city of Jerusalem and literal nation of Israel. And unless the context suggest otherwise, we are on safest interpretative grounds by taking the text at face value and letting it say what it says to the Jewish audience who would have read it in Jeremiah's day. One alternative is to interpret the text allegorically. Bernard Ramm writes "In allegorical interpretation the interpreter finds alongside the literal sense of the text a different and deeper meaning which may even completely exclude the literal meaning." Notice especially that last clause "may even completely exclude the literal meaning!" Ramm goes on to describe the word "spiritual" noting that "with reference to prophecy it means that a given prediction is not to be fulfilled in a literal way but in a different way, in a different key. The descriptions of the great prosperity of Israel is “spiritualized” into meaning the great successes of the Christian Church." We give this background only to emphasize that this commentary assiduously avoids either allegorizing or spiritualizing any text that can be interpreted literally. In other words, if the plain sense makes good sense in context, we will seek to make no other sense out of it, lest it potentially be construed as nonsense! And even worse such an approach could arrive at an interpretation which is inaccurate and not at all what Jehovah originally intended which He spoke these words to Jeremiah! Recall that in the first 29 chapters Jeremiah's predominant message was of divine judgment. In Jer 29:10-11 Jehovah gave a preview of better things to come for the Jews declaring "When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place, for I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." And then the next four chapters describe Israel's future and her hope, some of these prophecies to be fulfilled in the return from Babylon, but many of the prophecies speaking of a time that correlates best with the last days just preceding and including the Second Coming of the Messiah. And as discussed many writers have titled Jeremiah 30-33 as the "Book of Consolation." The second time - The first time was in Jeremiah 32 (see especially note on Jer 32:1-2) and this phrase links Jeremiah 33:1-13 with Jeremiah 32:1-44. We cannot determine with certainty how long the lapse was between Jehovah speaking to Jeremiah the first time and now a second time. It does appear that enough time has passed that the siege is beginning to have an impact on Jerusalem (see Jer 33:4). Recall that King Zedekiah had put Jeremiah in the royal prison for preaching in the name of the Lord that that Babylonians would be victorious over Judah and Jerusalem (Jeremiah 32:1-5). Analytical Bible Expositor Outline 1. Jeremiah 33:1-5 The Retribution Upon Israel 2. Jeremiah 33:6-18 The Restoration of Israel 3. Jeremiah 33:19-26 The Reassurance for Israel Outline of Jeremiah 33 - A C Gaebelein (Ref) 1. The call to pray and Jerusalem’s overthrow (Jeremiah 33:1-5) 2. Future blessing and glory (Jeremiah 33:6-14) 3. The Branch of Righteousness; Jerusalem’s new name (Jeremiah 33:15-18) 4. Jehovah’s faithfulness (Jeremiah 33:19-26) Jeremiah 33:2 "Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name, JEHOVAH MAKER OF THE EARTH KJV Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; NET "I, the LORD, do these things. I, the LORD, form the plan to bring them about. I am known as the LORD. I say to you, ESV "Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it--the LORD is his name: NIV "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it-- the LORD is his name: NLT "This is what the LORD says-- the LORD who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the LORD: YLT Thus said Jehovah its maker, Jehovah its former, at establishing it, Jehovah is His name: ASV Thus saith Jehovah that doeth it, Jehovah that formeth it to establish it; Jehovah is his name: Who made the earth - Why would Jehovah reiterate a truth similar to earlier descriptions of His creative and sustaining power in the "Book of Consolation" (see Jer 31:36-37, Jer 32:17)? Clearly, this is a reminder of God's omnipotence. He is able to do whatever is necessary to make His promises come true! This is especially significant in light of the many prophetic promises He makes in the rest of this chapter. The point is when He makes a promise, He has the power and authority to fulfill the promise, and the incredible promises to Israel in this chapter as seemingly impossible as they seen to the human mind, are no exception for they are possible with Him! One other point since Jehovah is the Maker of all things, He is also the Maker of time, which means He is able to predict these future events! What promises has He made to you that you feel He is not powerful enough to fulfill? Ask the Spirit to show you His great power and grow your faith as you read Jeremiah 33. Shepherd's Notes reminds us that "The fidelity of God's Word is grounded in the completeness of God's person. As Creator, Healer, Ruler, and Covenant Keeper, the Lord deserves to be trusted. God can do all good things, but He cannot lie." The LORD is His Name - Compare similar passages in the prophecy of Amos describing God as Creator and ending with the LORD is His Name (or LORD of hosts) - Amos 4:13, 5:8-9, 9:5-6. the Name of Jehovah is a key word in Jeremiah 33 for it is the Name associated with His faithfulness to keep covenant which is exactly what He will affirm to Israel in this chapter. Butler makes an interesting observation on Jeremiah 33:2 - The fact that creation gives the Creator authority helps explain why men cling tenaciously to evolution, for evolution takes away authority from the Creator and gives it to the creation. (Analytical Bible Expositor) Imagine yourself in prison like Jeremiah and you hear the LORD describe His great power in creation. Beloved, be encouraged, for He Who made the earth is able to release you from "the prison" you are in and He will do so in His perfect timing (Memorize and Meditate on 1Peter 1:6-7-note, 2Cor 4:16-18-note, Hebrews 12:11-note, Psalm 119:67, 71) Jeremiah 33:3 ' Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. ' INVITATION TO CALL ON JEHOVAH AND BE TOLD UNSEARCHABLE THINGS KJV Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. NET 'Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.' ESV Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. NIV 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' NLT Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. YLT Call unto Me, and I do answer thee, yea, I declare to thee great and fenced things -- thou hast not known them. ASV Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not. BBE Let your cry come to me, and I will give you an answer, and let you see great things and secret things of which you had no knowledge. RSV Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things which you have not known. A C Gaebelein - What an offer and what an assurance! Then the Lord speaks of the great and mighty things, announcing first the overthrow of Jerusalem....The next great and mighty things revealed are the future blessings and glory. (in Jeremiah 33:6-14) (Ref) In the prophecy of Isaiah Jehovah makes a similar declaration "You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, even hidden things which you have not known." (Isa 48:6) The phrase great and mighty things reminds us of Jeremiah's declaration that "Nothing is too difficult for You." (Jer 32:17). As Butler says " This is a great prayer promise for everybody. It is an appeal to seek God for help for at least two good reasons. • The response of God. “I will answer thee.” Praying is not in vain. God will answer. You may be an obscure nobody but prayer gets God’s attention. • The results from God. “I will show thee great and mighty things.” Prayer gets great results, too. “Great and mighty” are not seen much because we do not really pray in the way this text urges us to pray. (Ibid) Call - This is not a suggestion but a command to Jeremiah. By way of application it is a command to all believers. Cry out to Him in your time of need, which is ALL the time! And you can do so confident that He will answer for John writes "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (1John 5:14-15) F B