Jer 31:13 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD calls to sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, the twelve tribes ( ). With five verbs, “sing”, “shout”, “proclaim”, “give praise” and “say”, Jeremiah celebrates the great salvation that lies ahead for Israel. The people who have been trampled on for so long will then stand as chief above all the nations. Because it is not yet so, the call sounds to praise the LORD and to add to this the prayer that He saves His people. His people are “the remnant of Israel”. Here we see that praise precedes prayer. The praise proclaims the assurance that the prayer will be answered. The answer also comes immediately, for the LORD causes the remnant to come from all the ends of the earth ( ; ). No one will be left behind by weakness or prevented by natural circumstances. It will be a great multitude. The “woman with child and she who is in labor with child” announce new life, which will make the great multitude even greater. The remnant who return are aware that they have to blame themselves for the scattering ( ). For this they will weep tears of repentance. Their supplications will be answered by the LORD with His guidance. Weeping and supplication are the attitude and mind that are a joy to His heart. Such a people He can lead to streams of refreshing waters (cf. ). He does so on a path that is without unexpected turns and without any obstacles with the danger of stumbling. He does so as a father in his care for his beloved child who is his firstborn, which is especially true of Ephraim. The LORD makes known to all the nations what He will do to Israel ( ). Indeed, He had to scatter Israel because of their abandonment of Him. But He will gather them again and shepherd them. He is the good Shepherd for His people ( ). The LORD will gather His people again because He has ransomed them and redeemed them from powers stronger than they ( ). Without Him, His people are weaker than the weakest people. He is stronger than the strongest power and when His people acknowledge Him again, their redemption is a fact. This is especially applicable to the redemption from the power of the antichrist in the end time. His people will come in the realm of peace – for that time is what it is all about – as a redeemed people and stand on Zion to cheer Him ( ). “The bounty of the LORD” are the blessings of the land which they will enjoy abundantly: the grain, the new wine and the oil (cf. ). They will offer sacrifices to Him and honor Him. Their souls will be at perfect rest, enjoying His benefits. There is no longer any reason to be sad. Nor will the abundance of blessing make them unfaithful any longer, as it has often been with them and often is with us. The selfish use of material blessing is a source of much hatred. The youth, which also points to this new, fresh situation, will express themselves in joy, and the old will join them ( ). Young women dance together, young men and old also dance together. The following practical remark may be attached to this. We do not read anywhere in God’s Word that dancing is done by a man and a woman together. It is always plural or alone and before the LORD. No wrong feelings are present in this. Dancing to please people as the daughter of Herodias does, does arouse those feelings ( ). It is the situation in the realm of peace. There, mourning is changed to joy and there is comfort after sorrow. That reversal is from the LORD. He is the cause of their joy and comfort. He is leading His people into the realm of peace. The priests, those who sacrifice to the LORD, will be satisfied with abundance ( ). So great will be the prosperity of the people bestowed upon them that the priests will be satisfied because of the many sacrifices offered by the worshipers (cf. ). The abundant harvests will increase the portion of the priests. The people, that is all the people, will also be satisfied and they will be satisfied “with My goodness”. What a deep satisfaction that must be. Spiritually speaking, we can already experience this now, if we occupy ourselves with all the good blessings given to us by the Lord Jesus and presented to us by the Spirit in God’s Word.

‏ Jeremiah 31:13

Joy Is Back in Israel

The LORD calls to sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, the twelve tribes (Jer 31:7). With five verbs, “sing”, “shout”, “proclaim”, “give praise” and “say”, Jeremiah celebrates the great salvation that lies ahead for Israel. The people who have been trampled on for so long will then stand as chief above all the nations. Because it is not yet so, the call sounds to praise the LORD and to add to this the prayer that He saves His people. His people are “the remnant of Israel”.

Here we see that praise precedes prayer. The praise proclaims the assurance that the prayer will be answered. The answer also comes immediately, for the LORD causes the remnant to come from all the ends of the earth (Jer 31:8; Mt 24:31). No one will be left behind by weakness or prevented by natural circumstances. It will be a great multitude. The “woman with child and she who is in labor with child” announce new life, which will make the great multitude even greater.

The remnant who return are aware that they have to blame themselves for the scattering (Jer 31:9). For this they will weep tears of repentance. Their supplications will be answered by the LORD with His guidance. Weeping and supplication are the attitude and mind that are a joy to His heart. Such a people He can lead to streams of refreshing waters (cf. Isa 41:18 ; Isa 43:20 ; Isa 49:10). He does so on a path that is without unexpected turns and without any obstacles with the danger of stumbling. He does so as a father in his care for his beloved child who is his firstborn, which is especially true of Ephraim.

The LORD makes known to all the nations what He will do to Israel (Jer 31:10). Indeed, He had to scatter Israel because of their abandonment of Him. But He will gather them again and shepherd them. He is the good Shepherd for His people (Jn 10:1-16).

The LORD will gather His people again because He has ransomed them and redeemed them from powers stronger than they (Jer 31:11). Without Him, His people are weaker than the weakest people. He is stronger than the strongest power and when His people acknowledge Him again, their redemption is a fact. This is especially applicable to the redemption from the power of the antichrist in the end time.

His people will come in the realm of peace – for that time is what it is all about – as a redeemed people and stand on Zion to cheer Him (Jer 31:12). “The bounty of the LORD” are the blessings of the land which they will enjoy abundantly: the grain, the new wine and the oil (cf. Deu 11:13-14). They will offer sacrifices to Him and honor Him. Their souls will be at perfect rest, enjoying His benefits. There is no longer any reason to be sad. Nor will the abundance of blessing make them unfaithful any longer, as it has often been with them and often is with us. The selfish use of material blessing is a source of much hatred.

The youth, which also points to this new, fresh situation, will express themselves in joy, and the old will join them (Jer 31:13). Young women dance together, young men and old also dance together. The following practical remark may be attached to this. We do not read anywhere in God’s Word that dancing is done by a man and a woman together. It is always plural or alone and before the LORD. No wrong feelings are present in this. Dancing to please people as the daughter of Herodias does, does arouse those feelings (Mk 6:22).

It is the situation in the realm of peace. There, mourning is changed to joy and there is comfort after sorrow. That reversal is from the LORD. He is the cause of their joy and comfort. He is leading His people into the realm of peace.

The priests, those who sacrifice to the LORD, will be satisfied with abundance (Jer 31:14). So great will be the prosperity of the people bestowed upon them that the priests will be satisfied because of the many sacrifices offered by the worshipers (cf. Lev 7:34). The abundant harvests will increase the portion of the priests.

The people, that is all the people, will also be satisfied and they will be satisfied “with My goodness”. What a deep satisfaction that must be. Spiritually speaking, we can already experience this now, if we occupy ourselves with all the good blessings given to us by the Lord Jesus and presented to us by the Spirit in God’s Word.