Jer 31:25 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD encourages Judah and its cities ( ). He says He will bring a reversal in their captivity. Then the old blessing greeting will again be heard from the mouths of those who visit Jerusalem. That blessing is based on the fact that they will then live in Judah on the basis of righteousness and holiness. There is no blessing apart from these aspects, which are also the absolute guarantee of the blessing. “The holy hill” refers to the Temple Mount and to Jerusalem as a whole (cf. ; ). At that time, the city will again be characterized by its righteousness (cf. ). When that righteousness is there, which has its origin in the Messiah Who reigns, there will also be peace. There will be fellowship and cooperation in peace ( ). They will be satisfied and refreshed by the LORD ( ). Fatigue and sorrow will no longer be there because He has removed all reason for them. Jeremiah has seen that scene in a dream ( ), for the reality that surrounds him is totally unlike it. When he wakes up, he looks around and observes it. Yet his dream is not a deception. He is pleasantly refreshed by his sleep. He is comforted by it because what he has seen will happen. Here the dream is a means that reveals what will happen. We see such dreams for example in the histories of Jacob, Joseph, Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. We may also think about the fact that the Lord Jesus will make everything right. We do not see that yet, we only see misery, but the thought of the future is pleasant to us and refreshes us. When we think of the future we read about in God’s Word, we are not daydreaming or building castles in the air. It is really true what awaits us because it is based on righteousness and holiness through the work of Christ. The false prophets also have their dreams and tell them to the people ( ). When they wake up, it will not be pleasant.

‏ Jeremiah 31:25

Judah’s Bright Future

The LORD encourages Judah and its cities (Jer 31:23). He says He will bring a reversal in their captivity. Then the old blessing greeting will again be heard from the mouths of those who visit Jerusalem. That blessing is based on the fact that they will then live in Judah on the basis of righteousness and holiness. There is no blessing apart from these aspects, which are also the absolute guarantee of the blessing. “The holy hill” refers to the Temple Mount and to Jerusalem as a whole (cf. Psa 2:6; Isa 66:20).

At that time, the city will again be characterized by its righteousness (cf. Isa 1:21). When that righteousness is there, which has its origin in the Messiah Who reigns, there will also be peace. There will be fellowship and cooperation in peace (Jer 31:24). They will be satisfied and refreshed by the LORD (Jer 31:25). Fatigue and sorrow will no longer be there because He has removed all reason for them.

Jeremiah has seen that scene in a dream (Jer 31:26), for the reality that surrounds him is totally unlike it. When he wakes up, he looks around and observes it. Yet his dream is not a deception. He is pleasantly refreshed by his sleep. He is comforted by it because what he has seen will happen. Here the dream is a means that reveals what will happen. We see such dreams for example in the histories of Jacob, Joseph, Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar.

We may also think about the fact that the Lord Jesus will make everything right. We do not see that yet, we only see misery, but the thought of the future is pleasant to us and refreshes us. When we think of the future we read about in God’s Word, we are not daydreaming or building castles in the air. It is really true what awaits us because it is based on righteousness and holiness through the work of Christ. The false prophets also have their dreams and tell them to the people (Jer 29:8). When they wake up, it will not be pleasant.