Jeremiah 31:23-29: a reflection

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 midst of promises of restoration, God speaks a tender word about what he will do for the weary and sorrowful: For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. God promises to satisfy the weary and to replenish the sorrowful, to give rest and refreshment to those worn down and cast down. He does not overlook the weary and sorrowful; he attends to them, promising to satisfy and replenish them, filling again what weariness and sorrow have drained.

Notice God's promise to the weary and sorrowful: to satisfy and replenish them. He names two states, weariness and sorrow, that drain and empty the soul; and he promises to satisfy the weary and replenish the sorrowful, to fill again what these have emptied. God does not leave the weary in their weariness or the sorrowful in their sorrow; he attends to them, promising rest and refreshment, filling again the soul that weariness and sorrow have drained. His promise is to satisfy and replenish, to refresh the worn and cast-down soul.

That promise is worth resting in, for we know weariness and sorrow that drain and empty us, and God promises to satisfy and replenish. We can be worn down, weary, our souls drained; or cast down, sorrowful, emptied by grief. And we can feel there is no refreshment for us. But God promises to satisfy the weary soul and replenish the sorrowful, to fill again what has been drained. When you are weary and drained, or sorrowful and emptied, do not think there is no refreshment for you; God promises to satisfy the weary soul and replenish the sorrowful. Bring your weariness and sorrow to the God who promises to satisfy and replenish, trusting him to fill again what weariness and grief have drained, as he promised to satiate the weary soul and replenish every sorrowful soul; for God attends to the weary and sorrowful, and promises to refresh and fill again the soul that is drained and emptied.

Lord, in the midst of promises of restoration, you speak a tender word about what you will do for the weary and sorrowful: for I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. You promise to satisfy the weary and to replenish the sorrowful, to give rest and refreshment to those worn down and cast down. You do not overlook the weary and sorrowful; you attend to them, filling again what weariness and sorrow have drained. Show me your promise to the weary and sorrowful: to satisfy and replenish them. You name two states, weariness and sorrow, that drain and empty the soul; and you promise to satisfy the weary and replenish the sorrowful. You do not leave the weary in their weariness or the sorrowful in their sorrow; you attend to them, promising rest and refreshment. Let me rest in that promise, for I know weariness and sorrow that drain and empty me, and you promise to satisfy and replenish. I can be worn down, weary, my soul drained; or cast down, sorrowful, emptied by grief. And I can feel there is no refreshment for me. But you promise to satisfy the weary soul and replenish the sorrowful. When I am weary and drained, or sorrowful and emptied, keep me from thinking there is no refreshment for me; you promise to satisfy and replenish. Help me bring my weariness and sorrow to you, Lord, trusting you to fill again what weariness and grief have drained.