Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 30

Verses 1-3

Introduction

So far in this book we have heard prophecies of Jeremiah that, with the exception of a few passages (Jeremiah 2:1-Leviticus :; Jeremiah 3:14-Esther :Jeremiah 16:14-Ezra :; Jeremiah 23:1-Ruth :Jeremiah 24:4-Judges :), are all threatening and gloomy in character. In Jeremiah 30-33, the prophetic perspective changes to primarily hopeful. This is all the more remarkable because the prophecies in Jeremiah 32-33 were given in the tenth year of Zedekiah, that is, just before the final fall of Jerusalem. The main idea of these chapters is that Israel as a nation will not perish.

Return From Exile

These verses are the introduction to Jeremiah 30-31. They deal with the hopeful theme of the restoration of the people. These verses clearly and unequivocally establish that the people will return to the land. The LORD says this to Jeremiah in a new word (Jeremiah 30:1). We come to a climax here.

“The word” that comes to Jeremiah implies a special commission. It does not relate to preaching or delivering a message, but is intended primarily for himself. Since he is a type of the believing remnant, it is also meant for them. He is instructed to write in a book all that the LORD has spoken (Jeremiah 30:2). This seems to involve Jeremiah 30-33 in particular (cf. Jeremiah 36:2). What is written provides certainty and means of verification. Others also wrote their words in a book, such as Moses (Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 31:24), Joshua (Joshua 24:26), Isaiah (Isaiah 8:1; Isaiah 30:8), Nahum (Nahum 1:1), Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:2).

Jeremiah 30-33 are a separate book in this book. This “book” of four chapters is sometimes called “the book of comfort” because it is full of comfort and promises. These chapters contain the assurance of their continued existence. At a time when so many Jews are in exile, this must be a great comfort to those who believe. It contains prophecies about the realm of peace and about the Lord Jesus, for then and through Him all that is promised in these chapters will be fulfilled. They also have a practical meaning for us who are already living in the kingdom, even though that kingdom exists now in a hidden form (Romans 14:17). In spiritual terms, we can already experience such restoration now.

Above all, through the inspired Word we know the truth of God. We see the confirmation of what He has said when what He has said is fulfilled. Here He speaks in regard to His plan to bring about a turn in the captivity of both Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 30:3). It is about the restoration of the twelve tribes. Israel is in scattering and Judah in exile. They will again be as one people in the land of the fathers. It is not so now and it did not happen at the return from Babylon. The return from Babylon is imperfect, both in number and in condition.

Verses 4-7

The Time of Jacob’s Distress

The LORD’s words concern the twelve tribes, now divided into ten tribes, “Israel”, and two tribes, “Judah” (Jeremiah 30:4). He is speaking to all of them. His words concern the whole. The words Jeremiah is to pass on from the LORD do not initially contain words of hope, but are those of “a sound of terror” (Jeremiah 30:5). When deliverance comes, the people will be in the deepest misery, in great fear. There is no prospect of peace.

With a question, the LORD points out the dismay of that time. He wants people to think about what caused it. The events foretold work an enormous, panic-stricken fear in the men that is compared to the labor pains of a pregnant woman (Jeremiah 30:6). All their faces are pales by the sight of the disasters that are coming upon them and against which all resistance is futile.

What happens next makes that day – by which is meant a period of time – a day unparalleled in the entire history of God’s people (Jeremiah 30:7). The exclamation “alas” fits that day. That day is the period of a “time of Jacob’s distress” (cf. Matthew 24:21). At the same time, the comfort or encouragement also comes: “He will be saved from it.” When the need is greatest, the LORD comes to the aid of His people and will save them.

The prophetic Scriptures contain many references to this unique time of Jacob’s distress (Jeremiah 46:10; Isaiah 2:12-Ecclesiastes :; Isaiah 13:6Isaiah 34:1-Ruth :; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-Exodus :Joel 2:11; Daniel 12:1; Amos 5:18-Proverbs :; Micah 1:2-Deuteronomy :; Zechariah 14:1-Ruth :; Zechariah 14:12-Ezra :). The tribulation will culminate in both physical and spiritual salvation (cf. Zechariah 12:10-2 Chronicles :; Zechariah 13:1) that will be such that Israel will never again be subdued by any nation. This cannot be said of any salvation that has taken place to date. The promise, “he will be saved from it”, refers to a time even now future.

Verses 8-11

Saved From Tribulation

The outcome from that great distress comes from the LORD. He will break the yoke of the covenant that is there between the antichrist and the head of the Roman empire and that is upon His people, that is, upon the remnant thereof (Jeremiah 30:8). The bonds with which His people, that is the remnant, are then bound, He will break. It is a total salvation from all hostile, oppressive powers. He will do that through His King David, the Messiah, Whom He will raise up for them (Jeremiah 30:9). Then they will serve the LORD their God.

With the promise of the breaking of the yoke, the LORD encourages His “servant Jacob” not to fear (Jeremiah 30:10). The yoke that is imposed on them next, they will gladly take, for it is the gentle, benevolent yoke of their Messiah King (Matthew 11:28-Amos :). Jacob is His servant, the people serve Him. Those who serve Him are protected by Him. “Israel” need not be dismayed either, for the people will be saved by Him from the distant lands in which they are captives. The LORD will allow Jacob to return and let it dwell in its land in peace, without worry and without fear of enemies.

He guarantees it, He is with them (Jeremiah 30:11). This is the great and glorious promise that makes every opposition and every danger meaningless. When He is with us, nothing can threaten us and every threat is struck down. When He has scattered His people and is bringing them back, He will destroy completely all who seek to prevent it.

But His people He will not destroy completely, to them He will not make an end. He will certainly punish them because they have deserved it. But He will do that in moderation, so that they will not be totally annihilated. He will use that discipline to cleanse them and then He will fulfill His promises to them, that is to the remnant according to the election of His grace.

Verses 12-17

Wounds of Israel Healed

The condition of the people at this time looks hopeless (Jeremiah 30:12). The breach between the ten and two tribes is incurable; it is a painful wound. No man can do anything about it, nor are there any means of recovery (Jeremiah 30:13). Politics, science or education, everything has proved futile to give them back their health. The situation is hopeless for those who do not repent.

All those on whom they placed their hope have forsaken them, they are no longer worthy of their attention (Jeremiah 30:14; Jeremiah 22:20). The reason for that is that the LORD has wrought it, and the cause of it is their iniquity. He has smitten them because of the multitude of their sins. Therefore, He has become to them as “an enemy” and “a cruel one”. It is not the nations that are their real enemies, but the LORD. Therefore, the crying out is completely unjustified (Jeremiah 30:15). They have themselves to blame for the misery. Nor do they need to blame the nations, for what comes upon them comes from the LORD. They need to turn to Him in their distress.

This is not to say that their enemies go free (Jeremiah 30:16). Their enemies who discipline them under God’s permission devour God’s people. They do everything out of pure self-interest, they are out for their own benefit. They too do not reckon with God. Therefore, all their adversaries will go into captivity and suffer the misery they have inflicted on God’s people.

In contrast, God will restore His people and will do so soon (Jeremiah 30:17). He will do so because the enemies have exploited His people while they have regarded and treated them as pariahs. They have scornfully called it “Zion”. God will show that He has chosen precisely what they have despised.

It is with it as with a father who disciplines his children, but who will fight like a lion against anyone who wants to harm his children. In this way, God does not allow His people to be treated with contempt or spoken of disparagingly. Whoever touches His people touches the apple of His eye.

Verses 18-22

Rebuilding Jerusalem

Glorious promises about the restoration of God’s people follow. The LORD speaks of “the tents of Jacob” and of “his dwelling places” (Jeremiah 30:18). These are the dwelling places in the land where He will allow His people to dwell in peace. Those dwelling places are now ruins because the people have been driven out of the land. Jerusalem, His “city”, His dwelling place, will also be rebuilt, as will “the palace”, the dwelling place of His King. Everything will have its rightful place. There is also a certain ascension to be seen: tent, dwelling, city, palace.

When His people dwell in peace in the land again, the land will be filled with thanksgiving (Jeremiah 30:19). This will go out to the LORD and be perceived as a testimony by the nations around them. It is the sound of joyful people who will be numerous. The nations around them will look up to them and despise them no more.

Their sons will serve the LORD in faithfulness, and the whole, the church of Israel, will be established in the land before Him forever (Jeremiah 30:20). They will never again be removed from it. Anyone who dares to lift another finger against them will be punished by Him.

We have in Jeremiah 30:21 one of those beautiful Old Testament references to the Messiah. First, the nation will be blessed with a Ruler of its own people and not of a foreign people. “Theis leader”, that is the Messiah, shall be “one of them” (cf. Isaiah 10:34; Isaiah 11:1). This is a prophecy that presents a strong consolation in light of the people’s imminent subjugation to a foreign power. He is not a foreigner, like the many foreign rulers who have ruled over them. He will speak of them as of ‘My brethren’ (cf. Deuteronomy 17:15). He is their Ruler, “the government will rest on His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:5), He, Who will “be ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2). He rules.

Also, He is the One Who approaches God. This points to His priestly position and ministry (cf. Zechariah 6:13; Psalms 110:4). He is the King-Priest, the true Melchizedek. He is the Mediator between God and His people. This Ruler needs no mediator. He is therefore greater than David and Solomon. Like Melchizedek, He will have a double function. No man can take on the service of the priesthood by himself (cf. Hebrews 5:4). In fact, it is dangerous even for a king to do so. We see this with Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:26-Micah :; 1 Kings 13:1-Joshua :) and Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16-Proverbs :).

In view of the importance of access to God, Jeremiah shows in the last lines of Jeremiah 30:21 by a rhetorical question that it is not a light matter to approach God. Approaching God is allowed only to the priests, who serve in the holy place, while on the Day of atonement only the high priest is allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. The question implies a negative answer. But when the true David reigns, Israel will in truth be God’s people and God can openly acknowledge them as His people (Jeremiah 30:22).

In asking who would dare to risk his life to approach the LORD, we can think of the price the Lord Jesus was willing to pay for His people on the cross. There He not only risked His life, but He gave it. He made His soul a guilt offering (Isaiah 53:10) and paid the debt that we could not pay. There the Divine exchange took place: He our sins and we His blessing.

In Proverbs 17, we read that a person is “a man lacking in sense” if he stands surety for his neighbor (Proverbs 17:18). After all, you never know what you might end up with. The debt may well be so great as to be unaffordable. What the Lord did was not without “sense”. For He knew perfectly how high the price was and He knew that He could pay it. It reminds us of the statement in the letter to Philemon where the apostle Paul, as a true follower of the Lord Jesus, offers himself to Philemon as guarantor for Onesimus (Philemon 1:18).

Verses 23-24

Judgment and Then Blessing

There follows another word about the great tribulation which is here called “the tempest of the LORD” and “wrath”, “a sweeping tempest” (Jeremiah 30:23). This word concerns the wicked. God’s burning wrath does not turn away from them, but remains on their heads (cf. John 3:36). Before there can be blessing, the guilty must be judged. This is said precisely here, lest the careless be given false assurance in their sins. Despite promises of hope, God always remains faithful to the holiness of His nature in all His actions.

The LORD stands behind the judgment being carried out by Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah uses the picture of a sudden tempest to describe that judgment. The LORD is doing His work of redemption by showing His power in judgment. The blessings spoken of by Jeremiah are only for the God-fearing.

God’s anger will take its full course and effect (Jeremiah 30:24). He cannot be stopped. For the believer, it cannot be stopped either, but he may know that it has been averted and come down on the Lord Jesus. Those who do not believe will have to bear God’s wrath themselves. We cannot always understand how God expresses His anger and thereby brings about the thoughts of His heart. There will come a time when we will understand. We may already understand much of it when we read the book of Revelation, where much is revealed about the exercise of God’s anger.