Jer 24:6-7 | KingComments | STEP | Then the LORD goes on to give the meaning ( ). As “the LORD God of Israel”, the God of His people, Who knows His people through and through, He tells Jeremiah what the figs represent. He begins with the good figs ( ). The good figs are those who have been sent into exile by Him. They are gone from His land, but not from His heart. He regards them as good because they have accepted His discipline. What that good is, He then declares. We hear what He will do, showing that He has a fullness of blessing in mind for them. They are under His discipline, but His eye remains on them for good ( ). If we also realize this despite all our unfaithfulness, that is already a great blessing. He shows His goodness by making them return to this land. The exile is not final, but temporary. He will build them and not, as it seems now, overthrow them. He will plant them and not, as it seems now, pluck them up. The restoration will be complete. This full restoration has not come after a remnant returns from Babylon to the land after seventy years of exile. That is a partial and also temporary restoration. The full restoration will take place in the end time. The good figs are not in themselves better than the other figs. They are good because they bow under God’s judgment. Therefore, the LORD “will regard” them “as good” ( ) and set His eyes “on them for good” ( ). All the emphasis is on the fact that He will regard the exiles for good. This goes directly against the view of those left behind, who look down with contempt on those taken away, while seeing themselves as the faithful ones. The LORD will also give those who are carried away a heart to know Him ( ). Then they will be in a close relationship with Him. They will know Him as the LORD, the God of the covenant, Who fulfills all His promises. They will be His people and He their God. It will be so because they will return to Him “with their whole heart”. Then there will be perfect harmony between the LORD and His people because His people will be in complete accord with His plan.

‏ Jeremiah 24:6-7

Explanation of the Good Figs

Then the LORD goes on to give the meaning (Jer 24:4). As “the LORD God of Israel”, the God of His people, Who knows His people through and through, He tells Jeremiah what the figs represent. He begins with the good figs (Jer 24:5). The good figs are those who have been sent into exile by Him. They are gone from His land, but not from His heart. He regards them as good because they have accepted His discipline. What that good is, He then declares. We hear what He will do, showing that He has a fullness of blessing in mind for them.

They are under His discipline, but His eye remains on them for good (Jer 24:6). If we also realize this despite all our unfaithfulness, that is already a great blessing. He shows His goodness by making them return to this land. The exile is not final, but temporary. He will build them and not, as it seems now, overthrow them. He will plant them and not, as it seems now, pluck them up. The restoration will be complete. This full restoration has not come after a remnant returns from Babylon to the land after seventy years of exile. That is a partial and also temporary restoration. The full restoration will take place in the end time.

The good figs are not in themselves better than the other figs. They are good because they bow under God’s judgment. Therefore, the LORD “will regard” them “as good” (Jer 24:5) and set His eyes “on them for good” (Jer 24:6). All the emphasis is on the fact that He will regard the exiles for good. This goes directly against the view of those left behind, who look down with contempt on those taken away, while seeing themselves as the faithful ones.

The LORD will also give those who are carried away a heart to know Him (Jer 24:7). Then they will be in a close relationship with Him. They will know Him as the LORD, the God of the covenant, Who fulfills all His promises. They will be His people and He their God. It will be so because they will return to Him “with their whole heart”. Then there will be perfect harmony between the LORD and His people because His people will be in complete accord with His plan.