Jer 31:2 | KingComments | STEP | “At that time” ( ) is again the familiar expression for the end time (cf. ). Then the LORD will be the God of His people who are here represented as “all the families of Israel”, that is the twelve tribes and not just Judah. This refers to all the generations through the ages, but also to all the generations at that time. God will then joyfully acknowledge them as His people. They will then be focused on Him and serve no other gods. The people who will be there then are a people preserved by grace ( ). Many of them have fallen by the sword of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. There are also those who have survived that sword. That is what grace has worked. They all deserved the same judgment. They found grace in the wilderness of their exile ( ). The reason for His grace is His everlasting love ( ; ; ). The believer sees it from afar, from distant times, for the LORD shows it to His elect. Because of that everlasting love, He has “drawn” His people “with lovingkindness”. We see how God expresses Himself in grace, love and lovingkindness. For the people, this happened a first time at Sinai. There the bond between God and His people began ( ). In His love, He will build His people again and they will be rebuilt ( ). He is doing it and they will experience it. He is fulfilling His promise. He is doing that to the “virgin of Israel”. They will be like a new people who are in an untainted relationship with Him and are faithful to Him. There is no question of previous unfaithfulness. He begins history anew, as it were, with a new exodus under music and song as back then, when they went out of Egypt. “Tambourines” and “dances” are characteristic of times of joy (cf. ). These expressions of joy are contrasted with the sorrow of exile ( ). The conditions under which that new Israel will be built are those of music and dance. There is merriment all around. It is like the homecoming of the prodigal son ( ). They will “again” surround themselves with music and express their joy. That time is also a time of renewed prosperity. “Again” they will plant the land with fruits that speak of joy, “vineyards”, and the fruit of them they will enjoy themselves ( ). That time is the time of the restoration of the unity of the people. What the watchmen call out proves that the breach in the kingdom, which has lasted for many centuries, has been healed ( ). The watchmen stand in Ephraim, the ten tribes realm, and call out to arise and go up to Zion in the two tribes realm. For there is “the LORD our God”. There is then no longer any question of any jealousy between the two realms.

‏ Jeremiah 31:2

God’s Lovingkindness for Ephraim

“At that time” (Jer 31:1) is again the familiar expression for the end time (cf. Jer 30:24). Then the LORD will be the God of His people who are here represented as “all the families of Israel”, that is the twelve tribes and not just Judah. This refers to all the generations through the ages, but also to all the generations at that time. God will then joyfully acknowledge them as His people. They will then be focused on Him and serve no other gods.

The people who will be there then are a people preserved by grace (Jer 31:2). Many of them have fallen by the sword of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. There are also those who have survived that sword. That is what grace has worked. They all deserved the same judgment. They found grace in the wilderness of their exile (Jer 16:14-15 ; Jer 23:7-8).

The reason for His grace is His everlasting love (Jer 31:3; Hos 11:4 ; Hos 14:1; Zep 3:17). The believer sees it from afar, from distant times, for the LORD shows it to His elect. Because of that everlasting love, He has “drawn” His people “with lovingkindness”. We see how God expresses Himself in grace, love and lovingkindness. For the people, this happened a first time at Sinai. There the bond between God and His people began (Jer 2:1-3).

In His love, He will build His people again and they will be rebuilt (Jer 31:4). He is doing it and they will experience it. He is fulfilling His promise. He is doing that to the “virgin of Israel”. They will be like a new people who are in an untainted relationship with Him and are faithful to Him. There is no question of previous unfaithfulness. He begins history anew, as it were, with a new exodus under music and song as back then, when they went out of Egypt. “Tambourines” and “dances” are characteristic of times of joy (cf. Exo 15:20). These expressions of joy are contrasted with the sorrow of exile (Psa 137:1).

The conditions under which that new Israel will be built are those of music and dance. There is merriment all around. It is like the homecoming of the prodigal son (Lk 15:25-27). They will “again” surround themselves with music and express their joy. That time is also a time of renewed prosperity. “Again” they will plant the land with fruits that speak of joy, “vineyards”, and the fruit of them they will enjoy themselves (Jer 31:5).

That time is the time of the restoration of the unity of the people. What the watchmen call out proves that the breach in the kingdom, which has lasted for many centuries, has been healed (Jer 31:6). The watchmen stand in Ephraim, the ten tribes realm, and call out to arise and go up to Zion in the two tribes realm. For there is “the LORD our God”. There is then no longer any question of any jealousy between the two realms.