THE LORD PROMISES PEACE

Jeremiah 25
605 B.C.
This is perhaps one of the most depressing chapters in the whole of the Bible. It tells of the 70 years of captivity Judah endured under Babylon. Judah had rejected Jeremiah and all the prophets the LORD had persistently sent. They continued to horde after idols and provoked the LORD to anger. Jeremiah persistently spoke the Word of the LORD for 23 years, yet the people of Judah did not listen. The LORD’S wrath came upon Israel because they did not repent and turn from their evil ways.

“Thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me [Jeremiah]: ‘Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.’”
(Jeremiah 25:15-18 ESV)

Jeremiah 33
588-587 B.C.
Seventeen years later, Babylon has come once again and besieged Jerusalem. They had already attacked Jerusalem twice, once in 605 B.C. as we read in Jeremiah 25 and again in 597 B.C. Judah had truly tasted the wrath of the LORD. “They were a desolation and a waste, a hissing and a curse.” In Jeremiah 33 the Babylonian army has come back a third time to completely destroy Jerusalem. After Babylon had besieged it for a whole year the Word of the LORD came to Jeremiah who was imprisoned by the king of Judah because he had prophesied the destruction of the city. This weeping prophet had endured much suffering and after a year of siege, no hope was left, it was then that the Word of the LORD came to Jeremiah and spoke of peace:

“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning…Judah…I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil. Behold, I will bring to it health and healing…I will restore the fortunes of Judah…and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth…They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.”

Are you going through a desolate time? Are you feeling like Jeremiah…shut up in prison of darkness, with a great horde army threatening to tear down and demolish your very foundation? Ye fearful saint, take courage, lift up your eyes to your Redeemer, for He says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” This promise was not only addressed to Jeremiah, but also has wider application to all the people of God, particularly as we call out for understanding of his Word and purpose for our life. God the Creator, who established the earth has made a promise that cannot fail. His promise is as firm as the earth! He says ever so softly, “call to me and I will answer you” with steadfast love and grace. Call out for understanding, I will answer you and show you “hidden things”, future things, “which you have not known”.

Take courage! Call to Him and he will show you His purpose for your life. God always keeps His promises; He cannot fail!

“Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast’…there shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD:

“‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts,
for the LORD is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!’
For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’
(Jeremiah 33 ESV)