Jeremiah 31 FSI - HEAR, O EARTH

> [!title|noicon] **Jeremiah 31 Notes** > [[Jeremiah 30 FSI|<Prev]]   \[[Jeremiah 32 FSI|Next>\]] > [[Jeremiah 31|Verse list view]] > [Jeremiah 31:1](Jeremiah%2031.md#^1) note > > From the last 2 verses of chapter 30, notice that God is again switching from the warnings of judgment to the wonderful theme of His grace and mercy. And he's going to stick with this throughout this chapter. > > "At the same time, saith the LORD" -- That is, at the same time that God is bringing judgment upon the churches and the world... > > "...will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people." -- Again, this is better translated, "I AM the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people." So we have the great "I AM" here again as we saw in [Jeremiah 30:22](Jeremiah%2030.md#^22) -- the eternal, everlasting Person of God (remember [Ex 3:14](Exodus%203.md#^14)). It is a phrase that is altogether unique of God Himself as the Everlasting One, describing Who He Is -- He has no beginning and no end. Likewise, we know that God alone is True and Trustworthy, He alone is Truth. And God, Who is from everlasting to everlasting, is in charge of the whole business of judgment and salvation. And those who are saved are eternally His people forevermore. There will never again be a falling away unto judgment in the new heavens and new earth. ^jer31-1 > [Jeremiah 31:2](Jeremiah%2031.md#^2) note > > "Thus saith the LORD, The people *which were* left of the sword" -- This is speaking of those who *escape* the judgment of God, they are left (alive) of the sword that is bringing spiritual death. The *sword*, that is, the Word of God ([Heb 4:12](Hebrews%204.md#^12)), is coming in judgment upon the local congregations and the world. But there are those who are *left of the sword*, that is, they are not brought under judgment, they are left out, they are left remaining. That is because they find grace in God's sight... > > "...found grace in the wilderness; *even* Israel," -- So from amidst those who are under judgment, there are those who have come out into the wilderness. And this is because of the *grace* of God, they found grace from God in the wilderness of the world. And remember, grace is altogether a gift. We don't actively receive it, we receive it passively because God has given it to us. Salvation is a free gift that comes from Him. > > So God continues in this verse, "when I went to cause him to rest." *Rest* has to do with salvation in Christ, we rest in Him ([Hebrews 4:1-11](Hebrews%204.md)). We rest from our labors where we might try to enter into salvation, which is not possible for us to do. And we rest from the burden of our sin ([Mt 11:28](Matthew%2011.md#^28)). And God Himself causes us to rest in Christ by His grace, that is, He has done everything to save us if we are His. > > Notice God says here, "when I went to cause *him* to rest". Why does He say *him* (singular) rather than *them* (plural)? This points to the fact that those who are saved are the very Body of Christ. So this is Christ as He's represented by His body, by all those who are the believers who have been caused to rest because they are secure in Christ, all of their sins have been paid for. > > ^jer31-2 > [Jeremiah 31:3](Jeremiah%2031.md#^3) note > > "The LORD has appeared of old unto me, *saying*, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:" -- Our salvation was already anticipated and planned before the foundation of the world. Those who are to become saved were chosen then. And all of our sins have already been paid for by Christ, Who suffered the wrath of God in our stead, long before we were even born. So those who are the elect of God are already justified, they are already in a situation where God cannot send them to eternal death for their sins because He has already made the payment. So when Christ declared, "It is finished," it illustrated how they had all been completely exonerated and justified at that time. > > But He has not *applied* that justification to their life until the moment He gives them a new heart and a new Spirit -- a new resurrected soul as they are raised with Christ. *Then* they actually experience it in their lives. But the grace and love of God for them was *from the foundation of the earth* and fully expressed when Christ made payment for their sins. So it's important for us to understand that salvation has nothing to do with anything that we do -- it was all accomplished before we were even born if we have indeed become saved. It is 100% altogether the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His love for His people is from everlasting to everlasting ([Ro 8:39](Romans%208.md#^39); [1 Jn 4:7](1%20John%204.md#^7), [8](1%20John%204.md#^8), [9](1%20John%204.md#^9)). So He had already from before the foundation of the world bestowed His love upon those He planned to save ([Ro 9:10-26](Romans%209.md)). > > "...therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." -- This matches what we read in [John 6:44](John%206.md#^44) that God must draw us to Himself. He is absolutely in complete charge of the salvation of those He plans to save. This is His program, He must draw those He plans to save into the kingdom of God, and He does so through His love for us. So our position if we're still unsaved is to plead with God in sackcloth and ashes, "Oh Lord, have mercy. Could it be that I, too, might become one of Thine." We must become broken before God, waiting upon Him. ^jer31-3 > [Jeremiah 31:4](Jeremiah%2031.md#^4) note > > "Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel:" -- When God uses the term *again*, here, it's like what we read in [Jeremiah 30:18](Jeremiah%2030.md#^18). God will bring *again* the captivity, He will (re)build the city upon her own heap where they had been destroyed. During the church age, there was a very defective temple -- there were many tares sown among the wheat. Satan would come in through his emissaries as an angel of light, as ministers of righteousness to deceive ([2 Cor 11:14](2%20Corinthians%2011.md#^14), [15](2%20Corinthians%2011.md#^15)). False christs and false prophets arose to deceive many. And from the beginning in Revelation 1 and 2 God warned that He would remove their candlestick if they did not remain faithful, something which happened repeatedly throughout the church age until they were finally destroyed at the end with not one stone left upon another (as typified in [Mt 24:1](Matthew%2024.md#^1), [2](Matthew%2024.md#^2), [3](Matthew%2024.md#^3) with [1 Pe 2:5](1%20Peter%202.md#^5) and [Lam 4:1](Lamentations%204.md#^1), [2](Lamentations%204.md#^2)). But now, during this final harvest, God is rebuilding His spiritual, *eternal* temple outside of the context of the churches and congregations where there are no more tares, there is no more wood, hay and stubble ([1 Cor 3:12](1%20Corinthians%203.md#^12)), there are no more impurities within it. There is only the wheat because they do not identify with a local congregation or denomination or creed of some kind, it consists only of those who become true believers -- and only God knows who they are because they are part of the invisible, eternal temple only. > > "...thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry." -- This is language that speaks of the joy of salvation. Think of David who danced when the ark was brought into Jerusalem. He was leaping for joy at the wonder at what God is doing -- it's not the kind of dancing that the world engages in. ^jer31-4 > [Jeremiah 31:5](Jeremiah%2031.md#^5) note > > It's talking here about *planting vines*. Now, there had been the vineyard that was overseen by the nation of Israel. And, remember, they wanted to kill the owner of the vineyard which pointed to when they killed the Lord Jesus. Then God gave that vineyard to other husbandmen, that is, He transferred that vineyard to the churches and congregations during the church age and assigned the task of caring for it to the elders, deacons and pastors ([Mt 21:33-43](Matthew%2021.md)). But then we read that they did not care for it properly, so it brought forth wild grapes, grapes that were a stench. So God destroyed the vineyard altogether ([Is 5:1-7](Isaiah%205.md)). > > But now, once again, the vines are being planted. And these vines are growing which will never bring forth bad grapes. God is speaking about the final outcome of His salvation plan. So these vines will never be destroyed, this is now perfection. We can say this because, ultimately, the Lord Jesus Himself is the True Vine, as we read in [John 15:1](John%2015.md#^1), [5](John%2015.md#^5). Notice now that *the Father* is the Husbandman, He is doing the rebuilding here. The vine that was kept by national Israel and the visible churches and congregations as husbandmen was not eternally secure and was totally destroyed. Only those who are actually saved in Christ, with God alone as the Husbandman and Christ as the Vine, make up the true, eternal vine. This is thus the perfect Vine and will remain so, it will *never* be cut off. > > "...and shall eat *them* as common things." -- This phrase actually comes from a word that either means *to begin*, or *to pollute or profane*. And that which is profane is the opposite of that which is holy. The translators didn't really know what to do with this, so they translated it in such as way as to mean that the planting of vines (which points to the Gospel) would be so successful at this time that they would be eating them as the common food -- something that isn't set apart as holy. But here God is speaking about planters planting a completely *new* vine -- it is a new *beginning* (just as the heavenly Jerusalem is called the new Jerusalem - [Rev 3:12](Revelation%203.md#^12), [21:2](Revelation%2021.md#^2)). So this phrase would be more accurately translated, "...and *they* shall begin." And as we look at verse 6, we see that they begin to proclaim that the final harvest has come. ^jer31-5 > [Jeremiah 31:6](Jeremiah%2031.md#^6) note > > "For there shall be a day, *that* the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry," -- The word translated *watchmen* is a word that means *keepers* -- those who watch over or *keep* the Law, those who are seeking to preserve the Truth. > > "Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God." -- This is the task of the true believers in our day. We are the keepers, the watchmen. And we are declaring to those in the world, to whomever will hear (by God's grace), "Arise, *now* is the time to go up to the Lord Jesus Christ and supplicate to Him for mercy!" This is the day in which He is saving a great multitude during the final harvest from the highways and hedges as judgment is falling upon the visible churches and the world, as we know from many other passages. ^jer31-6 > [Jeremiah 31:7](Jeremiah%2031.md#^7) note > > "For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations:" -- Jacob here is speaking about Christ and all those who are the true believers. There is gladness, that is, there is salvation for them. And in [Psalm 22:28](Psalm%2022.md#^28), we read that God Himself is the Governor, He is the Chief, of the nations. And we shout according to the Chief of the nations, that is, we declare the Word of God according to His Will. He has commanded us to send forth His Word about this great salvation that He is bringing, a great multitude which no man can number: "publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel." *All* of the glory goes to God as we petition Him to have mercy on those in this world and as HE brings salvation to His people. None of the glory or credit goes to us at all whatsoever. ^jer31-7 > [Jeremiah 31:8](Jeremiah%2031.md#^8) note > > "Behold, I will bring them from the north country," -- This is a phrase that points to the whole world as typified by Babylon in relation to Jerusalem. It is the place where Satan rules over the unsaved of the world, spiritually speaking. And that is where God saves this great multitude as He brings them from the north country, as they hear the Word of God during this time. > > "...and gather them from the coasts of the earth," -- This reinforces the previous phrase. God is gathering His people from the far corners of the earth, from the coasts of the earth. In other places God uses the phrase *the isles*, which points to the continents of the earth. > > "...*and* with them the blind and the lame," -- This ties back into what Jesus said in [Luke 7:22](Luke%207.md#^22) when John the Baptist [inquired as to whether He was indeed the Christ](Luke%207.md#^20) (see also [Mt 21:14](Matthew%2021.md#^14)). Christ came to heal those who are spiritually blind and lame -- these are the kind who come into His kingdom. He has not come to save those who think they are righteous. He comes to save those who have nothing going for them, those who are objects of pity altogether. > > "...the woman with child and her that travails with child together:" -- In [Matthew 24:19](Matthew%2024.md#^19) we find parallel language to what we read here in this verse. In Matthew 24, the context is one of *woe* during the great tribulation when we are to come out from the abomination of desolation. And that, along with [Lamentations 2:11](Lamentations%202.md#^11), [12](Lamentations%202.md#^12), we find the language of pity that God has with those in the local congregations and with their families where there is no corn and wine left, there is no fruit of the Gospel left there at all. It is a place of doom and gloom where even the children are being set up for destruction. > > Then in [1 Thessalonians 2:1](1%20Thessalonians%205.md#^1), [2](1%20Thessalonians%205.md#^2), [3](1%20Thessalonians%205.md#^3) we read about those in the churches and congregations who, while not directly denying that Christ is coming again, they deny that we can know anything about the timing of it altogether so that He comes as a thief in the night against them. They are at ease in Zion, proclaiming peace and safety for themselves, which God again likens to a woman travailing with child that will suddenly come under judgment. These are those who are not truly watching, they are not searching the Bible so that they have any inkling that the time has drawn near. They aren't listening to the whole Word of God and are trusting in a gospel that their churches have designed for them. Whereas for the true believers that day will not come as a thief in the night ([vv4](1%20Thessalonians%205.md#^4), [5](1%20Thessalonians%205.md#^5), [6](1%20Thessalonians%205.md#^6)). > > But here in Jeremiah 31:8, those with child or travailing with child are coming into this great and glorious company of those who have become saved. So this verse gives us great encouragement that there are those who will yet come out from the churches and congregations that are experiencing the abomination of desolation under the judgment of God. So we cannot simply pass judgment upon individuals who are still there believing they are being obedient to the Word of God, even though, sadly, it is the most terrible place to be as Christ has completely left them. But once a woman is travailing with child, it indicates just how close we are to that time -- and yet God is nevertheless still saving them out of the churches and congregations. > > "...a great company shall return thither." -- A great congregation, a great multitude, a great army shall return to God during this final harvest (remember [Jer 30:19](Jeremiah%2030.md#^19), see also [Joel 2:24](Joel%202.md#^24); [Rev 7:9](Revelation%207.md#^9)). So even as judgment has already begun to fall for quite a few years now, which will lead to judgment day and the end of time, God is still bringing in a great multitude of people into the kingdom of God outside of any visible church or visible representation of the kingdom of God on earth -- only through the true believers as they continue to send forth the Gospel into the world! What a thrill to know through this passage that God is still saving many as we approach the very end of time! This is not just some little thing God has planned for the end, it is a great and wonderful program to save a great many of His elect during the final harvest. ^jer31-8 > [Jeremiah 31:9a](Jeremiah%2031.md#^9) note > > "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them:" -- This ought to be the *attitude* of those who are unsaved but are coming into the kingdom of God. We come to Him with weeping and supplications. We see an example of this in Daniel's prayer, many years after the temple had been destroyed and the captivity was in Babylon. Daniel was fully aware that God had determined that they would eventually return from Babylon into Judah and Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, a picture of the time in which we live today when God is again building His (eternal, spiritual) temple and kingdom -- for the sake of *God's* glory and Truth. > > So we read of Daniel's supplications in [Daniel 9:3-19](Daniel%209.md). And as we see through the language of Daniel's prayer, we are entitled to nothing from God because of our sins, it is all because of God's *mercy* and for *His glory* that we can beseech Him for deliverance and restoration. We saw this attitude also in Nineveh after Jonah warned them that God would soon destroy them. There was total brokenness before God ([Jonah 3:8](Jonah%203.md#^8), [9](Jonah%203.md#^9), see also [Zeph 2:3](Zephaniah%202.md#^3); [Joel 2:12](Joel%202.md#^12), [13](Joel%202.md#^13), [14](Joel%202.md#^14)). And even *after* God has saved us and given us a new heart we fully recognize that we are still sinners and constantly in need of God's mercies. So we must come very humbly before God. No one has anything to boast about before Him. There are no excuses, no arguments that we can make -- we can only make a flat declaration of our sinfulness to Him (see [Lk 18:13](Luke%2018.md#^13), [14](Luke%2018.md#^14)). God is perfectly righteous and we are the sinners, we have rebelled against Him and do not deserve His mercy and grace at all. And our situation is so dire that we come to Him with weeping and with supplications like Daniel. And, like Daniel, we realize that God receives *all* of the credit and glory in saving us. > > God has declared and brought all of His judgments that we find, for example, in [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](Deuteronomy%2028.md), against the local congregations that, like Daniel and those in captivity, we who are outside in Babylon might turn from our iniquities and come into Truth ([Dan 9:13](Daniel%209.md#^13)), with weeping and supplications. That is, when God brings judgment upon others, it serves as a warning to us also ([1 Cor 10:1-12](1%20Corinthians%2010.md)). > > Back to Jeremiah 31:9, we read, "I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble:" -- Notice again that GOD will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters (the Gospel) in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble. This is parallel language to what we read in [Ezekiel 11:19](Ezekiel%2011.md#^19), [20](Ezekiel%2011.md#^20); [36:24](Ezekiel%2036.md#^24), [25](Ezekiel%2036.md#^25), [26](Ezekiel%2036.md#^26), [27](Ezekiel%2036.md#^27), [27](Ezekiel%2036.md#^27). Notice how many times God says, "I will" (or "will I") do this and that to save you. God does *all* of the work in salvation and receives *all* of the glory for it ([Jn 6:44](John%206.md#^44); [Php 2:13](Philippians%202.md#^13)). > > When God says that He *will cause them to walk by rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble*, remember the rivers of waters has to do with the Gospel, with the Word of God ([Jn 4:14](John%204.md#^14), [6:35](John%206.md#^35), [7:38](John%207.md#^38)). So as He guides us during this time it will be altogether according to His Word (His Law) so we will not veer to the right hand or to the left, nor go backwards, if we are truly saved -- as the churches did repeatedly during the church age. We will walk in the straight way and not stumble. > > In relation to the rivers and fountains of waters in Jerusalem (the water of the Gospel bringing salvation) where there will never again be any curse as God dwells with us, see [Isaiah 44:3](Isaiah%2044.md#^3), [4](Isaiah%2044.md#^4), [5](Isaiah%2044.md#^5); [66:10](Isaiah%2066.md#^10), [11](Isaiah%2066.md#^11), [12](Isaiah%2066.md#^12), [13](Isaiah%2066.md#^13); [Zechariah 14:8](Zechariah%2014.md#^8), [9](Zechariah%2014.md#^9); [Joel 3:16](Joel%203.md#^16), [17](Joel%203.md#^17), [18](Joel%203.md#^18) and [Revelation 22:1](Revelation%2022.md#^1), [2](Revelation%2022.md#^2), [3](Revelation%2022.md#^3). As God is building His kingdom at this time as we approach the end, those involved will never again come under the curse of God and this program will not fail in any way whatsoever, as those who are coming in are now coming into the eternal kingdom of God, no longer into a visible organization related to the kingdom of God. And God is not only able to fulfill His Word in this regard, but He *will* fulfill it! ^jer31-9a > [Jeremiah 31:9b](Jeremiah%2031.md#^9) note > > "...for I am a father to Israel" -- In one sense we are all children of God in the sense that He created us. But we are estranged from Him and have gone own way. But in another sense, when we are saved we are brought into the *family* of God ([Ro 8:15](Romans%208.md#^15), [16](Romans%208.md#^16)). And that's the sense in which God is speaking here -- of the great multitude that God is bringing into the kingdom of God (the eternal Israel) during this final harvest. > > ...and Ephraim *is* my firstborn." -- Ephraim is another name for Israel. Many times God uses Ephraim in a negative sense as He describes His wrath that has come upon national Israel and the visible church, the visible kingdom of God. But here He is using Ephraim to point to Christ and His people, as He just stated that He is a Father to Israel. Christ and His elect are the *firstborn* ([Ro 8:29](Romans%208.md#^29); [Col 1:13](Colossians%201.md#^13), [14](Colossians%201.md#^14), [15](Colossians%201.md#^15), [18](Colossians%201.md#^18); [Heb 12:22](Hebrews%2012.md#^22), [23](Hebrews%2012.md#^23)). So God is focused on Christ and on all of His elect people, who are the spiritual body of Christ, here. > > Interestingly, Ephraim, a son of Joseph, wasn't actually the firstborn. He was his second son after Manasseh. But God, through Joseph, indicated that spiritually Ephraim was to be blessed with the double inheritance of the firstborn ([Gen 48:8-20](Genesis%2048.md); [Deut 21:15](Deuteronomy%2021.md#^15), [16](Deuteronomy%2021.md#^16), [17](Deuteronomy%2021.md#^17)). God had done the same with Ishmael and Isaac by making Isaac the firstborn, and again with Esau and Jacob by making Jacob the firstborn. God has even declared, "In Isaac shall they seed be called" ([Ro 9:7](Romans%209.md#^7)), and, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" ([Ro 9:13](Romans%209.md#^13)). And the principle for this is found in [Luke 13:30](Luke%2013.md#^30) where God's elective program is in view -- we cannot expect that just because someone is literally the firstborn means that they have a greater chance at become saved than someone who is not. Someone is spiritually the firstborn only if they are in Christ, and this could include someone who was literally the firstborn or those who were not. They will receive the double inheritance (a figure of salvation) that Christ has provided for them. > > Looking further at this idea of a double inheritance, it also applies to judgment. For example in [Isaiah 40:1](Isaiah%2040.md#^1), [2](Isaiah%2040.md#^2), while it is speaking of salvation for the elect, it refers to them as having received the double penalty for their sins (in Christ). But then in [Revelation 18:4](Revelation%2018.md#^4), [5](Revelation%2018.md#^5), [6](Revelation%2018.md#^6), [7](Revelation%2018.md#^7), [8](Revelation%2018.md#^8) we read where the harlot Babylon must pay double (judgment) according to her works. That is, she represents the visible churches that should have had the double inheritance but now must pay double for her sins. ^jer31-9b > [Jeremiah 31:10](Jeremiah%2031.md#^10) note > > "Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare *it* in the isles afar off" -- Notice again that this grand, awesome, terrible event of God's judgment on the world -- as well as His plan to save a great multitude during this time -- is not being declared in a corner. It's not hidden away in some ivory tower or something that a few theologians are talking about in some prestigious seminary. This information is being heralded into all the world right here in Jeremiah 31 that there's a great multitude being saved. There's a great hope today and maybe it will be for you, too! Beseech the Lord, come with a broken and contrite heart, broken in your sins. This is God's final plan for the world. > > "...and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd *does* his flock." -- He that had scattered Israel (the visible churches, the visible kingdom of God that has been scattered for their rebellion), will gather them (the eternal church/Israel made up of the elect of God) and will keep him (the eternal Israel, those who are saved and make up the body of Christ) as a shepherd (Christ) does His flock. Christ speaks of His people, the true believers, as a flock of sheep ([Jn 10:11](John%2010.md#^11)). ^jer31-10 > [Jeremiah 31:11](Jeremiah%2031.md#^11) note > > To understand what we are redeemed and ransomed from we might look at [Psalm 49:15](Psalm%2049.md#^15) and [89:48](Psalm%2089.md#^48). We are saved from the power of the grave. Until and unless we are saved, eternal death has a clutch on every human being, it is infinitely stronger than we are. There's no way for us to avoid it unless we are redeemed. And to be redeemed means that our sins had to be paid for -- Christ had to suffer the wrath of God, equivalent to eternal death, on behalf of those He has saved. So the power of the grave, or hell, cannot prevail against those He has come to save ([Mt 16:18b](Matthew%2016.md#^18)). So unless Christ is our Savior there's no other solution whatsoever. But Christ has come as the Redeemer that we might be delivered. And Jacob in this instance represents all those who are in Christ, the kingdom of God. ^jer31-11 > [Jeremiah 31:12a](Jeremiah%2031.md#^12) note > > This verse is a beautiful sentence of salvation which is happening in *our* day, as God is yet saving a great multitude while judgment has fallen upon the churches and the world at large. > > "Therefore they shall come and sing..." -- This is what we do in our hearts and even literally when we know that we are safe and secure in Christ, when we are safe from the wrath of God and eternal death for our sins. This is the maximum joyful thing that anyone could ever have. We've been exonerated, Christ has been our Substitute so that we sing with joy (which we'll see more when we get to [v13](Jeremiah%2031.md#^13)). > > "...in the height of Zion," -- *The height of Zion*, like Jacob in [v11](Jeremiah%2031.md#^11), points to being in the kingdom of God -- it is high up, it is mount Zion in Heaven far above the earth. > > "...and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD," -- When God speaks of *flowing* here, we find the same idea, and the same setting, in [Micah 4:1](Micah%204.md#^1). There, too, is the language of being *established in the top of the mountains and exalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it* -- parallel to what we read here in Jeremiah 31:12 where they are singing *in the height of Zion and flowing to the goodness of the LORD*. > > As we have found in Jeremiah that this great salvation comes on the heels of God's judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem for their sins (the visible churches in our day), we find that same context in [Micah 3:11](Micah%203.md#^11), [12](Micah%203.md#^12), just preceding Micah 4:1, where Jerusalem has *become heaps and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest* -- representing God's destruction upon them for their rebellion of the high places and for going after other gods. > > But then we read about this great salvation in [Micah 4:1](Micah%204.md#^1), which is parallel to what God is speaking about here in Jeremiah 31:12. Notice also in Micah 4:1 that God says this will come to pass *in the last days*, and in [Micah 4:2](Micah%204.md#^2) there are *many nations* that are coming into the kingdom of God. So God is teaching us about this great multitude that is being saved at this time in which we are living. ^jer31-12a > [Jeremiah 31:12b](Jeremiah%2031.md#^12) note > > "...for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd:" -- God is saving this great multitude as He opens their hearts *through the Gospel*, through the Bible alone as represented by *the wheat, the wine, the oil and the flock of the herd*. The *wheat* points to Christ, Who Is the *Bread* or grain of life ([Lk 22:19](Luke%2022.md#^19); [Jn 6:35](John%206.md#^35), [48](John%206.md#^48)). The *wine* points to the *blood* of Christ ([Lk 22:20](Luke%2022.md#^20)) shed for His people under the *wrath* of God ([Rev 14:10](Revelation%2014.md#^10)) for their sins. Wine also comes from a vineyard, which represents those who are in Christ -- where He is the Vine and we are the branches. The *oil* points to the *anointing* of the Holy Spirit that anoints *the priests* (that is, the believers - [1 Pe 2:9](1%20Peter%202.md#^9); [Rev 5:9](Revelation%205.md#^9), [10](Revelation%205.md#^10)) and the olive three that fuels the lamp of the Gospel ([Zech 4:11](Zechariah%204.md#^11), [12](Zechariah%204.md#^12), [13](Zechariah%204.md#^13), [14](Zechariah%204.md#^14)). And the flock and herd point to those who become saved ([Ps 95:7](Psalm%2095.md#^7); [Jn 10:27](John%2010.md#^27)). So this is the impact of the Gospel in our day, in the last days, even as God's judgment is coming upon the unsaved of the world. (See also [Joel 2:23](Joel%202.md#^23), [24](Joel%202.md#^24), which uses the same language to represent a *super abundance* of people who are becoming saved during *the latter rain*, the final harvest. The floor shall be *full* of wheat and *overflow* with wine and oil -- it is not a scarce harvest.). > > "...and their soul shall be as a watered garden;" -- They shall be as the Garden of Eden where there was perfect harmony and peace with God. They are God's husbandry ([1 Cor 3:9](1%20Corinthians%203.md#^9)), that are watered by the Gospel -- which is called the well, the spring and the river of the water of Life ([**Is 58:11**](Isaiah%2058.md#^11); [Jn 4:14](John%204.md#^14); [Rev 22:17](Revelation%2022.md#^17)). > > "...and they shall not sorrow any more at all." -- See [Isaiah 30:19](Isaiah%2030.md#^19). There are 2 things to consider here. First, God is indicating that this great salvation of a multitude at the end will not be like at any time in history past. There will *never again* be a falling away of the visible kingdom of God like there was repeatedly during the time of national Israel in the Old Testament period and during the church age of the New Testament. Since God is speaking only of those being saved into the *eternal* kingdom of God at this time, as He sends forth His Word during the final harvest, they are *eternally* safe and secure in Christ. As the nations flow into the kingdom of God completely outside of any visible organization that might guide them into error, they are flowing to the goodness of the LORD alone. So they shall not sorrow any more at all -- there is now a pure kingdom of God existing into the new heavens and the new earth. > > The second thing to consider is that once we are safe in Christ we *rejoice*. When we first learn about our sins and that we are under the wrath of God, we sorrow and mourn. Remember the Beatitudes in [Matthew 5:4](Matthew%205.md#^4) where it says, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." And even here in [Jeremiah 31:9](Jeremiah%2031.md#^9) we read, "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them...." This is the condition we are in as we come to the Lord pleading for salvation, recognizing that we deserve eternal death as we implore Him for His mercy. We come with sorrow as we see our sins. But when we are finally true believers and find in our life an increasing, intense desire to do the will of God, then we can begin to rejoice (as we'll see in verse 13). ^jer31-12b > [Jeremiah 31:13](Jeremiah%2031.md#^13) note > > "Then shall the virgin" -- When we become saved we are looked upon as absolutely righteous in Christ. We're no longer looked upon by God as spiritual adulterers in our sin because it has all been covered by Him. He has removed all of the guilt so that in His eyes we are as a virgin (as we saw in [v4](Jeremiah%2031.md#^4); see also [2 Cor 11:2](2%20Corinthians%2011.md#^2); [Rev 14:4](Revelation%2014.md#^4)). > > "...rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow." -- God is not giving assent to worldly dancing, here. We must be very careful with this. God is using dancing as a figure of joy and happiness in the heart. In a similar way, God speaks in spiritual terms in other places in the Bible of an abundance of wealth, or an abundance of wine (as we saw in [Joel 2:24](Joel%202.md#^24)) to represent salvation and the blood of Christ. It is not worldly wealth and alcoholic revelry that He is speaking of, it is the Gospel of salvation using these as spiritual types and figures. And this is actually part of God's strategy to test the people as to whether they will justify worldly activity of the flesh rather than understanding the spiritual purpose of this language. Likewise, worldly dancing really has nothing to do with joy in Christ. God is simply using it as an expression of the joy of salvation. ^jer31-13 > [Jeremiah 31:14](Jeremiah%2031.md#^14) note > > "And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness," -- Again, this is just how wonderful this salvation is. It expresses the abundance of joy that God gives us when it comes to salvation in Christ! God will give us far more than we need. When you're satiated you've had more than enough to satisfy and yet it's so wonderful that there's even more. And again, the priests point to those who have become saved ([1 Pe 2:9](1%20Peter%202.md#^9); [Rev 5:9](Revelation%205.md#^9), [10](Revelation%205.md#^10)), they are in Christ Who Is the Heavenly Priest. Then we see this idea of *fatness* in [Isaiah 30:23](Isaiah%2030.md#^23). It's a word to indicate that which is *lush* and super healthy. There's plenty of grain and good food. It points again to how the Lord Jesus gives us more than we need of the graciousness and blessing of God, it just flows out of His Word. (See [Is 30:18-30](Isaiah%2030.md) and the notes there for more information)). > > Study in progress 2.2026. > > ^jer31-14 Tags: #Old_Testament #Jeremiah #Gods_judgment_on_His_people #FSI