Context No. 2460 of 4322 · Jeremiah

Jeremiah 31:23-29: in context

23The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Yet again they will use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I reverse their captivity: ‘The LORD bless you, habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness.’ 24Judah and all its cities will dwell therein together, the farmers, and those who go about with flocks. 25For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” 26On this I awakened, and saw; and my sleep was sweet to me. 27“Behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of animal. 28It will happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” says the LORD. 29“In those days they will say no more, “‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

In the middle of Jeremiah's book of comfort, God promises to reverse Judah's captivity and restore ordinary, good life: farmers and shepherds back in the land, people again blessing one another. He says, I have satisfied the weary soul, and every languishing soul I have replenished. And he draws a picture of his own attention: as I once watched over them to pluck up and tear down, so now I will watch over them to build and to plant.

The image of God watching is the one that stays with you. The same alert, unwavering attention he once turned toward discipline, uprooting and breaking down, he now turns toward rebuilding. God is not distracted in either season; he watches to tear down when that is needed, and he watches, just as closely, to build and plant when the time comes. For a weary soul, the promise is not only rest but the assurance that God's careful attention has turned toward restoration. He satisfies the tired and replenishes the drained.

Do I trust that God's attention has turned from tearing down to building in me, and that he means to satisfy my weariness?

Sources

Jeremiah 31:25: For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Jeremiah 31:28: like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down... so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD.
Matthew 11:28: Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.