August 24

Today reading was short but full of hope. Jeremiah prophesizes that after God's people have been in exile and are scattered among the nations, God will bring them back to heir land and restore their treasures. He will also administer justice on those who do wrong to them; will forgive all their sins and will restore Judah and Israel as they were before.

1. God's Forgiveness and Love
I was amazed at the timing of this message. Judah is in the midst of receiving its punishment but God is quick to comfort its people. His love for us is shown both in his patience in transforming us into better people (100s of years of warnings) and his immediate call to turn to Him and receive his love (His promises of hope for better future during suffering.)

I keep liking to stress the point of God's patience...Imagine if anyone's would venture to make a full account movie of the Old Testament (OK, let's say there will be many more sequences than the Harry Potter movies.) God will be the ultimate main hero of the movie of course, the good guy (like Alsan in the Chronicles of Narnia.) Imagine how would the screenplay writer and director have to represent the constant rebellion of the people against God the hero for century after century without boring and frustrating the viewers to death and at the same time being true to the scope and magnitude of their rejection of good! Now see that this long and arduous plot was God's reality with his chosen people. Don't you find yourself frustrated at the people you read about in this scripture? However, it seems that this is still his reality with his creation today – us, the modern people. We keep rejecting Him today. His patience to teach us good and his constant love do not seem to change.

2. Christ: God's best promise
As the introductory notes to the reading point out, not only Jeremiah’s prophecy is promising God's people returning to their home after the 70 years of exile in Babylon but also gives a glimpse of the promise for a free people and a kingdom with no end; the promise of a Messiah.

Jeremiah 23:5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will raise up to David [a] a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.

Jeremiah 23:6 "In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness."

Jeremiah 33:17 For this is what the LORD says: 'David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel'

How exciting! How do you think the exiles felt when they heard this? How do you feel today knowing this prophecy is fulfilled and that the Righteous Lord also saved you and made you righteous?

Further Reflection: What has God restored in your life? What are current promises he's made to you of things he will restore to you?