Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 33

Verses 1-26

The first section includes verses 1 to 18. Like the foregoing, it concerns the restoration to the land, but in no sense limiting it to the return at the expiration of the seventy years in Babylon. "Great and mighty things" (Jeremiah 33:3) GOD is about to show to His servant. He who, for their sins, has permitted the overthrow of Jerusalem, having hidden His face from it, will assuredly bring it health and cure, revealing unto them "the abundance of peace and truth." (Jeremiah 33:6) He will cause the captivity of both Israel and Judah to return, and give them to know His pardoning grace, cleansing them from all their transgressions (Jeremiah 33:1-8).

Jerusalem is destined yet to become a "name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all the nations of the earth," for the fame of His lovingkindness towards it shall go out into all the world.

In place of the desolation which it must for a time know, its streets shall once more be filled with a joyous, God-fearing multitude who shall chant the praise of their covenant-keeping GOD (Jeremiah 33:9-11).

In the country round about shepherds shall once more pasture their flocks with none to make them afraid, when the cities shall be rebuilt and the waste places inhabited, in the day that the Lord will perform all His promises of blessing (Jeremiah 33:12-14).

At that time the veil that for centuries has covered their hearts will be removed; the lowly Nazarene, once rejected as an impostor, will reappear in glory, to be accepted of all the people as the Anointed of the Lord.

"In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of Righteousness to grow up unto David; and He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, the Lord our Righteousness," (Jeremiah 33:15-16).

We have already noticed that in Jeremiah 22:6 it is He who is called by this significant name. Here it is applied to her - that is, to restored Jerusalem. His righteousness shall be put upon her; and clothed in the garments of salvation she shall rejoice beneath Immanuel's sway. The promise made to David shall be fulfilled: he "shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel," and the priesthood likewise shall be established (Jeremiah 33:17-18).

The second section is composed of the balance of Jeremiah 33:19-26, inclusive. It resembles the affirmation of Jeremiah 31:35-37, but is even fuller. If the covenant of the day and of the night can be broken, then may His covenant with David be annulled; but as truly as the stars of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so will He multiply the seed of David and of the Levites that minister unto Him (Jeremiah 33:21-22).

In their unbelief they had charged Him with violating His pledge and casting off the two families (Israel and Judah) which He had chosen; and the reference in their complaint is probably to the Chaldeans: "They have despised My people, that they should be no more a nation before them" (Jeremiah 33:23-24).

Their reasoning is utterly at fault. It is because they are His people that He "will punish them for their iniquity." Though they pass under the rod, He will not utterly give them up. If His covenant be not with day and night, and if He have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, then He will cast away the seed of Jacob and of David; otherwise He will certainly "cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them" (Jeremiah 33:25-26).

Soon, perhaps in the lifetime of many now upon earth, will He cause these promises to be fulfilled.

~ end of chapter 17 ~