Contrasting groups

Jeremiah 35:17–19 (ESV)

17Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.”

18But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you,
19therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.”

Jeremiah presented a stark contrast between the Rechabites and the other Israelites. One was obedient to the commands of their ancestors to refrain from wine, not plant crops and live in tents while the other was disobedient to all the commands given to them by the prophets God sent to them to turn away from worshipping idols and serving the gods of the other nations. One would be rewarded forever, and the other would be conquered by the Babylonians and taken into captivity, losing everything they had been given. The Rechabites honored their ancestors by obeying the commands given to them. One of the10 commands was to honor your father and mother that you may live a long life in the land. The honor they gave to their ancestors was noted by God and they received a wonderful promise. The Israelites did not listen or obey the many prophets God sent to them and dishonored God through their worship of other gods. Obedience is always rewarded and demonstrates that we honor God and his word. Disobedience invites disaster.

Violating the Covenant

Jeremiah 34:8–11 (ESV)
8The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation of liberty to them,
9that everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother.
10And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that everyone would set free his slave, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again. They obeyed and set them free.
11But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves they had set free, and brought them into subjection as slaves.

 Israel had violated many aspects of the covenant God made with them. One of the violations was that indentured slaves were to be released after fulfilling their 6-year commitment to serve their master. Yet this was not done as was commanded. Zedekiah enforced this part of the covenant by requiring the slaves to be set free. His motivation was not to truly set the people free but to use them as part of his army to defend the city against the Babylonian army. When the Babylonians retreated due to the intervention of the Egyptians help, the people dishonored the release of the slaves and took them back into possession. This act brought a response from God and the prophetic word of Jeremiah to let the people know that they would be defeated and brought into captivity for their violation of the covenant. When the covenant was made, an animal was sacrificed and cut into 2 parts. All of the people who were in agreement with the covenant would pass between the parts which symbolized that violation of the covenant would result in death. It was a solemn covenant and God held them accountable for changing their minds and taking the slaves back instead of giving them their freedom. God was angry because the covenant was made in his name and in agreement with his commands to them. The violation was an act against not only the slaves but God who instituted the covenant. When a vow is made in the name of God, he holds people accountable as it is a reflection upon him and an offense to him when it is not honored.

Restoration not rejection

 Jeremiah 33:23–26 (NRSV)

23The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
24Have you not observed how these people say, “The two families that the LORD chose have been rejected by him,” and how they hold my people in such contempt that they no longer regard them as a nation?
25Thus says the LORD: Only if I had not established my covenant with day and night and the ordinances of heaven and earth,
26would I reject the offspring of Jacob and of my servant David and not choose any of his descendants as rulers over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes, and will have mercy upon them.

The nation of Israel though severely punished was not totally rejected by God. They were still his chosen people and he was their God. He had plans to restore the nation and make the city of Jerusalem that was burned and destroyed a place of joy and worship. Israel has this promise, and God will not change it. It will be fulfilled during the millennial reign of Jesus when there will be a transformation not only of the land but the hearts of the Jewish people. They will realize that Jesus was the Messiah they rejected and crucified and will acknowledge him as Lord. The land will be prosperous, and the blessings of God will be showered upon the people. Other nations will be drawn to Jesus and will come to worship and offer sacrifices to him. God will receive the glory that he alone deserves.

Do them good

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Restoration not rejection →

Do them good

Posted on November 23, 2025 by bruceahlberg

Jeremiah 32:40–41 (ESV)
40I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.
41I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

God reveals his heart and soul for his people who have been in rebellion. They deserved and received the punishment that he brought upon them through the Babylonians. The city was completely destroyed as were all the houses where the sacrifices and offering were made to the other gods. These acts were an abomination to God as they turned their backs to him. In spite of all the evil they had committed, God was not willing to completely give up on fulfilling his promises to them. He would give them a new heart, one that fear him and would obey his commands. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and it is demonstrated by hatred of evil. He would rejoice in doing good to them and bring them back into the land. This was the desire of God for the people that they would seek him, obey him and be blessed by him. What kind of God is this who would restore and forgive the people who completely turned away from him? God is a God of love, mercy and forgiveness that goes beyond any human ability.

Israel an eternal nation

 Jeremiah 31:35–36 (NRSV)

35Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD of hosts is his name:
36If this fixed order were ever to cease from my presence, says the LORD, then also the offspring of Israel would cease to be a nation before me forever.

God’s covenant with Israel will never end. Though the nation was punished for their rebellion, his love for them never ceased and his desire to restore the nation would be fulfilled. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and Israel will one day be under the rule of Jesus when he returns. God has promised to bring the nation back to the Promised Land and reunite the people who have been scattered throughout the world. His plans for Israel have never changed, they are the people chosen and loved by God and he will demonstrate his love for them as they forsake their sinful ways and dedicate themselves to obey him. The complete fulfillment will occur during the millennial reign of Jesus

Restoring the fortunes

 Jeremiah 30:1–3 (NRSV)

1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
2Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.
3For the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors and they shall take possession of it.

God did allow Israel to return to the Promised Land during their captivity in Babylon, but these verses are also applicable to the millennial reign of Jesus when everything that was lost will be returned. The land will become prosperous again and there will be peace. The people of Israel returned partially to the Promised Land in 1948 when it once again became a nation. God miraculously restored them to the land, but the complete fulfillment of the promise given to Jeremiah is a future time after the years of tribulation. Today we see the struggle of Israel to keep a portion of the Promised Land. The nation is constantly battling the surrounding countries to stay alive and in possession of the land. God has miraculously kept the land under their control and has prospered the nation in spite of the opposition that seeks to annihilate the people and possess the land. This will continue until Jesus returns to rule and take possession of the land to rule in righteousness and justice. The enemies of Israel will be defeated, and peace will rule the land

Be productive and reproductive

 “For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘The exile will be long; build houses and live in them and plant gardens and eat their produce.’ ” ’ ”  (Jeremiah 29:28, NASB95)

The time of exile would last for 70 years. God wanted the people to be productive and reproductive. They were to make the best of their situation and submit to the leaders of Babylon in order that they would be in a state of welfare. They eventually would return to Jerusalem and would need to repopulate the city and the land. 70 years would allow time for many children to be born. God always has the best plans for our lives. He wants to bless his people in order for them to be a blessing. His promise to the captives was fulfilled in the time he declared it would happen.