Jeremiah 32:36-44: a reflection

36Now therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning this city, about which you say, “It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:” 37“Behold, I will gather them out of all the countries where I have driven them in my anger, and in my wrath, and in great indignation; and I will bring them again to this place. I will cause them to dwell safely. 38Then they will be my people, and I will be their God. 39I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good and the good of their children after them. 40I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good. I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me. 41Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.” 42For the LORD says: “Just as I have brought all this great evil on this people, so I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them. 43Fields will be bought in this land, about which you say, ‘It is desolate, without man or animal. It is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ 44Men will buy fields for money, sign the deeds, seal them, and call witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the places around Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South; for I will cause their captivity to be reversed,” says the LORD.

In the midst of judgment and exile, God speaks a promise of restoration overflowing with his own delight. I will gather them, he says, and bring them back, and make them dwell in safety; they will be my people, and I will be their God; I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And then a striking phrase: I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land with all my heart and with all my soul. God does not do his people good grudgingly, but rejoices to do it, with his whole heart.

Notice the delight with which God promises to bless his people: I will rejoice over them to do them good, with all my heart and all my soul. God does not bless his people reluctantly, or as a mere duty; he rejoices to do them good, delights in it, gives himself wholly to it, with all his heart and soul. The good he does his people flows not from grudging obligation, but from his own delight; he takes joy in blessing them, and does it wholeheartedly.

That is a truth about God's heart worth resting in. We can imagine God blessing us grudgingly, reluctantly, as though it were a duty he performed without joy; and so we can doubt whether he really delights to do us good. But God says he rejoices over his people to do them good, with all his heart and all his soul. He delights in blessing his people; the good he does us flows from his own joy, not from grudging obligation. Do not imagine that God blesses you reluctantly, as a grudging duty; he rejoices to do his people good, wholeheartedly, with delight. Rest in a God who delights to bless you, who rejoices over his people to do them good with all his heart and soul. The good God does you flows from his joy in doing it; let that shape how you see him, not as a grudging benefactor, but as a God who rejoices, with his whole heart, to do his people good.

Lord, in the midst of judgment and exile, you spoke a promise of restoration overflowing with your own delight: I will gather them and bring them back; they will be my people and I will be their God; and I will rejoice over them to do them good, and plant them in this land with all my heart and with all my soul. Show me the delight with which you promise to bless your people. You do not bless your people reluctantly, or as a mere duty; you rejoice to do them good, delight in it, give yourself wholly to it, with all your heart and soul. The good you do your people flows not from grudging obligation, but from your own delight. Let that truth about your heart be one I rest in. I can imagine you blessing me grudgingly, reluctantly, as though it were a duty you performed without joy; and so I can doubt whether you really delight to do me good. But you say you rejoice over your people to do them good, with all your heart and all your soul. You delight in blessing your people. Keep me from imagining that you bless me reluctantly, as a grudging duty; you rejoice to do your people good, wholeheartedly, with delight. Help me rest in you, who delight to bless me, Lord, who rejoice over your people to do them good with all your heart and soul. Thank you that you delight to do me good.