Jeremiah 30:18-24: a reflection

18The LORD says: “Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be built on its own hill, and the palace will be inhabited in its own place. 19Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small. 20Their children also will be as before, and their congregation will be established before me. I will punish all who oppress them. 21Their prince will be one of them, and their ruler will proceed from among them. I will cause him to draw near, and he will approach me; for who is he who has had boldness to approach me?” says the LORD. 22“You shall be my people, and I will be your God. 23Behold, the LORD’s storm, his wrath, has gone out, a sweeping storm; it will burst on the head of the wicked. 24The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until he has accomplished, and until he has performed the intentions of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.”

In this passage of promise, God speaks tenderly of restoring his people. I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents, he says, and have compassion on his dwellings; thanksgiving and the sound of merrymaking will come out of them; I will multiply them, and they will not be small. And at the heart of the promise is the covenant relationship itself: You shall be my people, and I will be your God. The restoration is not only of circumstances, but of the relationship, of belonging to God and having him as their God.

Notice the heart of the promise: you shall be my people, and I will be your God. Beyond the promised restoration of the city and the return of joy, this is the deepest thing God pledges, the restoration of the relationship, the belonging. God will not merely improve their circumstances; he will draw them near again as his own people, and be their God. And he promises one from among them who will draw near to him, for who else, he asks, would dare approach God? The nearness God gives is his own gift.

That promise, you shall be my people and I will be your God, is the heart of what God gives his people still. Beyond any restoration of our circumstances, the deepest thing God gives is himself, and the belonging that makes us his people. And the nearness we could never dare to claim on our own, God gives, drawing us to himself through the one he appointed, Christ, who dared to approach God on our behalf. Rest in the deepest promise God makes: not merely to improve your circumstances, but to be your God, and to make you his own people, drawn near to him. Whatever your circumstances, hold to this: you shall be my people, and I will be your God. The belonging God gives is deeper than any change of circumstance, and it is his surest promise; rest in being his.

Lord, in this passage you promise to restore your people, bringing back thanksgiving and joy; and at the heart of the promise is the relationship itself, you shall be my people, and I will be your God, with one from among them who will draw near to you, for who else would dare approach you. Show me that this is the heart of what you give. Beyond any restoration of my circumstances, the deepest thing you give is yourself, and the belonging that makes me yours. And the nearness I could never dare to claim on my own, you give, drawing me to yourself through the one you appointed, Christ, who dared to approach you on my behalf. Help me rest in your deepest promise: not merely to improve my circumstances, but to be my God, and to make me your own, drawn near to you. Whatever my circumstances, help me hold to this: you shall be my people, and I will be your God. The belonging you give is deeper than any change of circumstance, and it is your surest promise; help me rest in being yours, Lord.