7 At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he summoned Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest, 9 and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: 10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. 11 Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land.
Jeremiah 42:7-12
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Waiting on the Lord's Word
Waiting is rarely easy, especially when decisions seem urgent. Johanan and the people of Judah sought the Lord's guidance, and Jeremiah faithfully waited until God revealed His answer. The delay reminded them that the Lord speaks according to His perfect wisdom, not our preferred timetable. God's message was one of mercy: if they trusted His promise and remained where He had placed them, He would build them up, protect them, and show them compassion. Sadly, they would soon reject that gracious Word. We are often tempted to seek God's guidance only if it agrees with the plans we have already made. Yet the Lord calls us to trust His Word above our fears and desires. That trust is grounded in Christ. At the cross, God demonstrated beyond all doubt that His intentions toward His people are merciful. The risen Savior continues to strengthen us through His Word and Sacraments, teaching us to wait patiently and follow wherever He leads, confident that His promises never fail.

42 Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, came near 2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Let our plea for mercy come before you, and pray to the Lord your God for us, for all this remnant—because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us— 3 that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.” 4 Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your request, and whatever the Lord answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you.” 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the Lord your God sends you to us. 6 Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.”
Jeremiah 42:1-6
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When We Ask, Are We Ready to Hear?
The people came to Jeremiah with what sounded like a faithful request. They asked him to seek the Lord's will and promised they would obey whatever answer God gave. Their words were admirable, but their hearts were already fixed on the path they wanted to take. The Lord desires more than pious promises; He desires repentance and faith that gladly receive His Word, even when it contradicts our plans. We often approach God the same way, hoping He will bless decisions we have already made. Yet the Lord calls us to submit to His wisdom rather than our own. His commands are never given to harm us but to preserve us in His grace. At the cross, Christ perfectly obeyed His Father's will where we have failed. His faithful obedience has become our righteousness. Forgiven through His blood, we are freed to pray, "Your will be done," trusting that our crucified and risen Savior always leads His people in the way of life.

10 Then Ishmael took captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, the king’s daughters and all the people who were left at Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.
11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12 they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael the son of Nethaniah. They came upon him at the great pool that is in Gibeon. 13 And when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him, they rejoiced. 14 So all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. 16 Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs, whom Johanan brought back from Gibeon. 17 And they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt 18 because of the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
Jeremiah 41:10-18
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The Lord Preserves His Remnant
Fear and violence seem to dominate this chapter. After murder and betrayal, the surviving people of Judah are taken captive, and yet the Lord does not abandon them. Johanan courageously rescues those who had been carried away, preserving the remnant through whom God would continue His saving promises. Even amid the wreckage caused by sin, the Lord remains faithful to His covenant. How often our own sins and the sins of others leave us wounded, fearful, and uncertain of the future. Yet the Lord has not forsaken His people. He preserved Israel so that, in the fullness of time, the promised Savior would come. Jesus Christ entered a world filled with treachery and death, willingly bearing humanity's greatest betrayal at the cross. There He conquered sin, death, and the devil for you. The Lord who preserved His remnant has also claimed you in Baptism. Though dangers surround you, His steadfast promises remain. In Christ, your future is secure because His faithfulness never fails.

41 In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah, 2 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land. 3 Ishmael also struck down all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who happened to be there.
4 On the day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew of it, 5 eighty men arrived from Shechem and Shiloh and Samaria, with their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and their bodies gashed, bringing grain offerings and incense to present at the temple of the Lord. 6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah came out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, “Come in to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.” 7 When they came into the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and cast them into a cistern. 8 But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not put us to death, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the fields.” So he refrained and did not put them to death with their companions.
9 Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men whom he had struck down along with Gedaliah was the large cistern that King Asa had made for defense against Baasha king of Israel; Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain.
Jeremiah 41:1-9
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The Tragic Fruit of Sin
This is a sobering reminder that sin never remains small. Ishmael cloaked his murderous intentions with tears and hospitality, only to betray those who trusted him. The bloodshed that followed was more than political intrigue; it revealed the deep corruption of the human heart. Judah's suffering continued because rebellion against God bears bitter fruit. Sin destroys trust, communities, and lives. Yet this tragedy points us to the One who was also betrayed by deceit and false friendship. Unlike Ishmael's victims, Christ willingly endured betrayal and death to rescue sinners. On the cross, Jesus bore not only the violence of wicked men but also the guilt of our own sinful hearts. His innocent blood was shed so that our guilty blood would not condemn us. In Christ, forgiveness triumphs over treachery, and His resurrection restores the hope that sin can never finally destroy.

13 Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14 and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam would not believe them. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?” 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael.”
Jeremiah 40:13-16
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The Danger of Distrusting God's Providence
Fear often tempts us to seize control rather than trust the Lord's promises. Johanan sincerely desired to protect the remnant of Judah from Ishmael's treachery, yet he proposed a secret act of violence that rested on suspicion rather than God's revealed Word. Gedaliah rejected the accusation, unwilling to condemn a man without certain evidence. In a land already scarred by bloodshed, the temptation to answer fear with more bloodshed remained strong. We know this temptation well. Anxiety whispers that God's ways are too slow and that our own plans are safer. Yet Christ bore the violence of sinful humanity on the cross, where evil seemed victorious but God's saving purpose was accomplished. There the Lord proved that His wisdom surpasses ours and His providence never fails. When fear clouds your judgment, flee not to desperate schemes but to the crucified and risen Savior. In Him your future rests securely, and His faithful care will never abandon you.

7 When all the captains of the forces in the open country and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land and had committed to him men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile to Babylon, 8 they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. 9 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, I will dwell at Mizpah, to represent you before the Chaldeans who will come to us. But as for you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and store them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.” 11 Likewise, when all the Judeans who were in Moab and among the Ammonites and in Edom and in other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as governor over them, 12 then all the Judeans returned from all the places to which they had been driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.
Jeremiah 40:7-12
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Safe Under the Lord's Care
After Jerusalem fell, fear and uncertainty ruled the hearts of those left behind. Yet through Gedaliah's leadership, God provided stability for the remnant. Instead of fleeing in panic, the scattered people returned, gathered the harvest, and enjoyed the Lord's gracious provision. Even amid the consequences of Judah's sin, God remained faithful to His promise to preserve a people for Himself. The Lord often works through ordinary means and faithful servants to care for His Church, even when circumstances appear bleak. We know that earthly peace is often temporary, but God's greater promise is everlasting. In Jesus Christ, the true Son of David, God has gathered us from the scattered wilderness of sin into His eternal kingdom. At the cross, Christ bore the judgment our sins deserved so that we might receive reconciliation and peace with God. Though trials remain, we need not fear. Our Good Shepherd continues to provide daily bread, forgiveness, and every spiritual blessing until He gathers us into His heavenly harvest.

11 Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh’s army, 12 Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there among the people. 13 When he was at the Benjamin Gate, a sentry there named Irijah the son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans.” 14 And Jeremiah said, “It is a lie; I am not deserting to the Chaldeans.” But Irijah would not listen to him, and seized Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. 15 And the officials were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for it had been made a prison.
16 When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days, 17 King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, “Is there any word from the Lord?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” 18 Jeremiah also said to King Zedekiah, “What wrong have I done to you or your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison?
19 Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you and against this land’? 20 Now hear, please, O my lord the king: let my humble plea come before you and do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, lest I die there.” 21 So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers’ street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
Jeremiah 37:11-21
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A Word That Cannot Be Chained
Jeremiah sits imprisoned because he speaks the Lord’s truth in a time of political fear and false hope. King Zedekiah secretly seeks a word from the prophet, but he does not seek repentance, only relief. The king’s vacillation mirrors Israel’s deeper crisis: rejection of God’s clear Word in favor of human schemes. Jeremiah again declares judgment through Babylon, and yet God preserves His servant even in confinement. He is given bread daily until the city itself runs out of bread, a quiet sign that the Lord sustains His Word-bearer. Jeremiah points us to Christ, who is rejected, imprisoned, and condemned for speaking the Father’s truth. In Him we see the true Prophet who bears our judgment and gives us the Bread of life even when all other bread fails. Therefore, we trust His Word alone for life and salvation in every trial and season.

37 Zedekiah the son of Josiah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah, reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim. 2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord that he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet.
3 King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray for us to the Lord our God.” 4 Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison. 5 The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
6 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet: 7 “Thus says the Lord, God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, ‘Behold, Pharaoh’s army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land. 8 And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire. 9 Thus says the Lord, Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely go away from us,” for they will not go away. 10 For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, every man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.’”
Jeremiah 37:1-10
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The Lord’s Sure Promise
King Zedekiah sat on David’s throne, but he did not share David’s faith. Though Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed the Lord’s Word, the king and the people looked elsewhere for help. When Egypt appeared ready to challenge Babylon, many hoped Judah’s troubles would soon be over. Yet the Lord declared that Egypt would fail and Babylon would return. Human plans and political alliances could not overturn God’s judgment. Judah repeatedly trusted earthly powers rather than the Lord’s promises. We are tempted to do the same. We look to money, influence, governments, or our own abilities for security. Yet all earthly help eventually fails. The Lord calls us to trust His Word, even when circumstances seem to say otherwise. That Word reaches its fulfillment in Christ crucified. At the cross, everything appeared lost, yet God was accomplishing salvation. Because Jesus died and rose again, His promises cannot fail. Trust not in human strength, but in the faithful Lord who keeps His Word forever.

27 Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. 29 And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord, You have burned this scroll, saying, “Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it man and beast?” 30 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night. 31 And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the people of Judah all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, but they would not hear.’”
32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.
Jeremiah 36:27-32
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The Word Endures
King Jehoiakim thought he could silence God's Word by cutting up Jeremiah's scroll and throwing it into the fire. Yet the Lord simply commanded Jeremiah to write the words again. Human rulers may reject, mock, or oppose God's message, but His Word endures forever. The king's destruction of the scroll could not thwart the Lord's purposes. God preserved His Word and added further judgment against those who despised it. We often treat God's Word with similar contempt. We ignore its warnings, excuse our sins, and prefer our own wisdom. Yet the Lord does not abandon us. He continues to send His Word to call sinners to repentance and faith. That same enduring Word proclaims Christ crucified. Though wicked men nailed Jesus to the cross, they could not stop God's saving plan. Through Christ's death and resurrection, God speaks forgiveness, life, and salvation to all who trust in Him.

20 So they went into the court to the king, having put the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the secretary, and they reported all the words to the king. 21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary. And Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials who stood beside the king. 22 It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. 24 Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. 25 Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the secretary and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them.
Jeremiah 36:20-26
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The Word Cannot Be Burned
King Jehoiakim listened as Jeremiah’s scroll was read, but instead of repenting, he cut it apart and threw it into the fire. The king believed that by destroying the scroll he could silence God’s Word and escape God's judgment. Yet the Lord was not defeated. His Word remained true, and another scroll would be written. Jehoiakim’s actions reveal a hardened heart that refuses to hear the Lord’s call to repentance. We may not toss Scripture into a fireplace, but we are tempted to ignore God’s Word when it exposes our sin. We would rather cut away the parts that convict us than confess our wrongdoing. Yet God’s Word continues to speak. It condemns our sin, but it also proclaims Christ crucified for sinners. The cross declares that God’s mercy is stronger than human rebellion. Kings may burn scrolls, but they cannot destroy the Gospel. Through His enduring Word, Christ still grants forgiveness, life, and salvation.

9 In the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the Lord. 10 Then, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll, in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house.
11 When Micaiah the son of Gemariah, son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord from the scroll, 12 he went down to the king’s house, into the secretary’s chamber, and all the officials were sitting there: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the officials. 13 And Micaiah told them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the scroll in the hearing of the people. 14 Then all the officials sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, “Take in your hand the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them. 15 And they said to him, “Sit down and read it.” So Baruch read it to them.
16 When they heard all the words, they turned one to another in fear. And they said to Baruch, “We must report all these words to the king.” 17 Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, please, how did you write all these words? Was it at his dictation?” 18 Baruch answered them, “He dictated all these words to me, while I wrote them with ink on the scroll.” 19 Then the officials said to Baruch, “Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no one know where you are.”
Jeremiah 36:9-19
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The Word Cannot Be Silenced
Jeremiah’s message was not popular. The people of Judah had wandered far from the Lord, yet God continued to call them to repentance through His prophet. When Jeremiah’s words were read publicly, some listeners trembled while others sought to suppress the message. The officials recognized the seriousness of God’s warning and understood that these words demanded a response. God’s Word still confronts sinners today. Left to ourselves, we would rather ignore His Law than hear the truth about our sin. Yet the Lord speaks not to destroy but to save. His warnings are acts of mercy, calling us away from judgment and back to Himself. The greatest proof of God’s mercy is found at the cross. There, Christ bore the judgment our sins deserved. The same Word that exposes our guilt also proclaims forgiveness through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Though people may reject, mock, or attempt to silence God’s Word, it endures forever and accomplishes His saving purpose.

36 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord that he had spoken to him. 5 And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, “I am banned from going to the house of the Lord, 6 so you are to go, and on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people in the Lord’s house you shall read the words of the Lord from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the men of Judah who come out of their cities. 7 It may be that their plea for mercy will come before the Lord, and that every one will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and wrath that the Lord has pronounced against this people.” 8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house.
Jeremiah 36:1-8
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The Word Cannot Be Silenced
King Jehoiakim’s reign was marked by spiritual decline, yet the Lord did not remain silent. He commanded Jeremiah to record His words so that Judah might hear, repent, and receive mercy. Even as opposition grew and Jeremiah himself was restricted from entering the temple, God ensured that His Word continued to be proclaimed through Baruch. The message was clear: the Lord desired repentance, not destruction. God’s purpose in sending His Word was to call His people back to Himself. The same remains true today. Through Scripture, preaching, and the Sacraments, the Lord confronts our sin and reveals His grace. We may be tempted to ignore His warnings or trust in our own wisdom, but God’s Word continues to speak. Most importantly, that Word points us to Christ. At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment our sins deserved. Through Him, God grants forgiveness and peace. Human opposition cannot stop the saving Word of God.

12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. 16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. 17 Therefore, 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.”
18 But 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, 19 therefore 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 35:12-19
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Listening to the Father's Voice
The people of Judah had heard the Lord’s Word again and again through His prophets. Yet they refused to listen. In contrast, the Rechabites faithfully honored the command of their forefather, preserving his instruction for generations. Through this striking comparison, God exposes Judah’s unbelief. If the Rechabites could heed the word of a human ancestor, how much more should God’s people listen to the living Lord who created, redeemed, and sustained them? The same temptation confronts us. We often listen more carefully to our own desires, cultural opinions, or human wisdom than to God’s Word. The Law reveals our stubborn hearts and our failure to fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Yet the Lord does not abandon the disobedient. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed His Father’s will in our place. At the cross, Christ bore the judgment our rebellion deserved. Through His forgiveness, God creates in us new hearts that gladly hear and keep His Word.

36 “Now therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’: 37 Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I 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. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.
42 “For thus says the Lord: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. 43 Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, ‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ 44 Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 32:36-44
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A Covenant of Restoration
Jeremiah’s audience stood under the weight of judgment. Jerusalem would fall, and the people would be carried into exile because of their sin. Yet God’s final word was not destruction but restoration. He promised to gather His people, give them one heart and one way, and establish an everlasting covenant with them. The Lord would not abandon those whom He had chosen. God Himself creates the faithfulness He desires in His people. His promises do not rest on human strength but on His mercy. That truth finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ. At the cross, God established the new covenant in His Son’s blood, securing forgiveness for sinners and reconciling us to Himself. What Israel could never accomplish through obedience, Christ accomplished through His perfect life and sacrificial death. When guilt troubles your conscience or the future seems uncertain, remember that God delights in doing good to His people. In Christ, His covenant stands firm forever.

26 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, thus says the Lord: Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall capture it. 29 The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing but provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the Lord. 31 This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to this day, so that I will remove it from my sight 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah that they did to provoke me to anger—their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 They set up their abominations in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 35 They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Jeremiah 32:26-35
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The God Who Can Do the Impossible
Jeremiah stood in the middle of a hopeless situation. Jerusalem was under judgment, the people had filled the land with idolatry, and their leaders had rejected the Lord's Word. Humanly speaking, there was no future. Yet God reminded Jeremiah that nothing is too difficult for Him. The same God who would bring judgment would also bring restoration according to His promises. The people of Judah trusted false gods, political schemes, and their own wisdom. Their sin ran deep, reaching even into the worship they offered. Their rebellion was persistent and deliberate, yet God's sovereignty remained unchanged. He saw every sin and governed every event according to His righteous will. We often see situations that appear beyond repair, broken relationships, troubled congregations, burdensome guilt. But the Lord who judged sin also provided salvation. At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment we deserved and accomplished what was impossible for us. Through His death and resurrection, forgiveness and new life are given freely. The God for whom nothing is too hard still keeps His promises in Christ.

16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying: 17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. 20 You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. 21 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. 22 And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. 24 Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. 25 Yet you, O Lord God, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’”
Jeremiah 32:16-25
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The Lord Who Does the Impossible
Jeremiah’s prayer begins with confidence. He has just obeyed God’s command to purchase a field even as Jerusalem is surrounded by enemy armies. Looking at the circumstances, the command seems foolish. Looking at God, however, Jeremiah remembers that nothing is too hard for the Lord. The prophet recalls God’s mighty works in creation, the Exodus, and His continual mercy toward His people. Yet he is also honest about the present reality. Judah’s sins have brought judgment. The city is falling. God’s Word has proven true. Jeremiah wrestles with the tension between what he sees and what God has promised. Christians often find themselves in similar circumstances. We see sickness, loss, uncertainty, and the consequences of sin. Yet faith does not rest on what is visible. It rests on the God who keeps His promises. At the cross, God accomplished what seemed impossible. Through the death of His Son, He brought forgiveness and life to sinners. The God who raised Jesus from the dead is still at work, and nothing is too hard for Him.

32 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah. 3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it; 4 Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5 And he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him, declares the Lord. Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed’?”
6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ 8 Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
9 “And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. 11 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. 12 And I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my cousin, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. 13 I charged Baruch in their presence, saying, 14 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’
Jeremiah 32:1-15
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A Deed of Hope
Jeremiah sat in prison while Jerusalem crumbled around him. The future looked bleak. Yet God commanded him to do something astonishing: buy a field. Humanly speaking, the land seemed worthless. Babylon was conquering the nation, and exile was imminent. But this purchase was a visible promise that God’s judgment would not be His final word. One day, His people would return, and fields would again be bought and sold in the land. Jeremiah’s purchase served as a sign of confidence in God’s sure promise of restoration. God’s people could trust His Word even when circumstances suggested otherwise. We often face situations that seem hopeless. Sin, suffering, and death appear to have the final say. Yet God points us to a greater deed of purchase. At the cross, Christ redeemed us, not with silver or gold, but with His holy precious blood. His resurrection guarantees that forgiveness, life, and salvation belong to us. When all seems lost, God’s promises remain certain. In Christ, the future is secure because the Lord always keeps His Word.

38 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when the city shall be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39 And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be sacred to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.”
Jeremiah 31:38-40
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A City Made Holy
Jeremiah closes this section with a remarkable promise. The prophet looks beyond judgment and destruction to a day when Jerusalem will be rebuilt and consecrated entirely to the Lord. Areas once associated with death, uncleanness, and ruin would become part of a city that belongs to God forever. This prophecy points to God's gracious restoration of His people after exile, demonstrating that His saving purposes cannot be thwarted. Yet this promise finds its fullest fulfillment in Christ. Jerusalem was rebuilt, but earthly cities still fall and earthly kingdoms still pass away. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus establishes a greater and everlasting kingdom. The places of death and curse are transformed by His cross into places of life and blessing. At Calvary, the Son of God entered the valley of death for us, bearing our sin and uncleanness. Because of Christ, God is even now building His holy people, and He promises a new creation where nothing unclean will remain. There, His redeemed will dwell with Him forever.

35          Thus 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:
            36          “If this fixed order departs
from before me, declares the Lord,
                        then shall the offspring of Israel cease
from being a nation before me forever.”
            37          Thus says the Lord:
                        “If the heavens above can be measured,
and the foundations of the earth below can be explored,
                        then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel
for all that they have done,
declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 31:35-37
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The God Who Keeps His Promises
The Lord points Jeremiah to the fixed order of creation, the sun by day, the moon and stars by night, as a testimony to His unchanging faithfulness. Just as no one can overturn the laws God established for the heavens, neither can anyone nullify His promises to His people. God uses the permanence of creation to assure Israel that He will not cast them away despite their sin and exile. We often look at our failures and wonder whether God has finally had enough of us. Yet God directs our eyes away from ourselves and toward His steadfast Word. His covenant faithfulness does not rest on our worthiness but on His mercy. That mercy finds its fullest expression in the cross of Christ. There, God kept His promise to save sinners by sending His Son to bear our guilt and judgment. The same Lord who governs the stars has secured your salvation in Jesus. Therefore, when doubts arise, remember: God’s promises are as certain as the heavens He created.

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Jeremiah 31:31-34
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A New Covenant Written in Blood
Jeremiah spoke to a people whose covenant-breaking had brought judgment and exile. Yet the Lord did not abandon them. Through the prophet, God promised a new covenant, not one written on stone tablets, but one written upon the hearts of His people. This promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The old covenant revealed God’s holy will but could not overcome the sinful heart. The new covenant brings what sinners desperately need: forgiveness. Through Christ’s atoning death on the cross, God accomplishes what His people could never do for themselves. The blood Jesus shed is the blood of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sins. The Lord’s promise is deeply personal. He declares that He will be our God and we will be His people. He remembers our sins no more, not because they were insignificant, but because Christ bore them in our place. In Him, we have peace with God, a cleansed conscience, and the certainty that His mercy endures forever.

10 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’
11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall be like a watered garden,
and they shall languish no more.
13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
14 I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,
and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,
declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 31:10-14
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Comfort From The Lord
The Lord scatters and the Lord gathers together. He destroys so that he can restore. The Law of God always accuses. It is a weight that no man can handle. The preaching of the Law utterly destroys you and me. But the Gospel resurrects. It is by the blood of Jesus' cross and by his glorious resurrection that the Lord has ransomed Jacob and redeemed you from hands too strong for you. This is the Lord that delights in taking care of you. We who weep and lament will sing and praise the Lord. He comes in the midst of our sorrow and comforts us by the sweet declaration of forgiveness and life. He invites you to the feast and he will satisfy you with his goodness. Our God alone sustains us. Thanks be to God.

7 For thus says the Lord:
“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘O Lord, save your people,
the remnant of Israel.’
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
9 With weeping they shall come,
and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,
I will make them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble,
for I am a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Jeremiah 31:7-9
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Sing With Gladness
The very thing that the Lord delights in is the salvation of his people. He delights in saving you from death and the power of the devil. He is merciful and slow to anger. He is the God that comes for you. He is the come-down-and-deliver-them God. He likes to be close to his people, so he goes and finds them in their despair and brings them back. He is the best Good Shepherd for you. As he gathers you from all the many places we have driven ourselves by our sins and rebellion, he leads us back through green pastures and quiet brooks of water. This is the straight path. This is the path of God for you and me. God is Father to you. He call him "Father," like Jesus. Jesus has made you like himself. You are the delight of the Father's eyes. That is reason to sing about. Sing with the choirs of angels and the host of heaven. You are the Lord's Jacob.

31 “At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”
2 Thus says the Lord:
“The people who survived the sword
found grace in the wilderness;
when Israel sought for rest,
3 the Lord appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
O virgin Israel!
Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines
and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
5 Again you shall plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters shall plant
and shall enjoy the fruit.
6 For there shall be a day when watchmen will call
in the hill country of Ephraim:
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
to the Lord our God.’”
Jeremiah 31:1-6
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Everlasting Love
We seek many things and yet we do not know for we are looking! We think we know what rest looks like. We think we know what rest is. Yet, we are like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus must come and rescue us. This is the Lord that finds us in the wilderness and leads us to quiet waters and green pastures. He is the One that establishes us and causes us to prosper. The Living God takes care of all needs of body and soul. He defends us against all danger and guards and protects us against all evil. He puts clothes on our back and water in our glass. This is also the God that brings forgiveness front and center. Into your ears, he speaks his Word of life. This Word makes you people of God. Rejoice in his gifts for you.

18 “Thus says the Lord:
Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob
and have compassion on his dwellings;
the city shall be rebuilt on its mound,
and the palace shall stand where it used to be.
19 Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving,
and the voices of those who celebrate.
I will multiply them, and they shall not be few;
I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children shall be as they were of old,
and their congregation shall be established before me,
and I will punish all who oppress them.
21 Their prince shall be one of themselves;
their ruler shall come out from their midst;
I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me,
for who would dare of himself to approach me?
declares the Lord.
22 And you shall be my people,
and I will be your God.”
23 Behold the storm of the Lord!
Wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest;
it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he has executed and accomplished
the intentions of his mind.
In the latter days you will understand this.
Jeremiah 30:18-24
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God Restores
The nature of the Living God is to have compassion. He bids his people return to him. He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. His desire is not that anyone should die eternally, but that all should repent of their sins and live with him forever. His desire is for you to be his people and for he to be your God. This is accomplished by the work of Jesus on the Cross. In the shed blood of your Savior, your sins are forgiven and a right Spirit is set in your heart. The response to sin is wrath and anger. There is One who stops and stills the that anger. That One is Jesus Christ. He has accomplished this for you. He stands as your Savior and Redeemer. The fierce anger of the Lord has been executed on this Jesus. He is victorious over all things and it is all for you. 

12 “For thus says the Lord:
Your hurt is incurable,
and your wound is grievous.
13 There is none to uphold your cause,
no medicine for your wound,
no healing for you.
14 All your lovers have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you;
for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy,
the punishment of a merciless foe,
because your guilt is great,
because your sins are flagrant.
15 Why do you cry out over your hurt?
Your pain is incurable.
Because your guilt is great,
because your sins are flagrant,
I have done these things to you.
16 Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured,
and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity;
those who plunder you shall be plundered,
and all who prey on you I will make a prey.
17 For I will restore health to you,
and your wounds I will heal,
declares the Lord,
because they have called you an outcast:
‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’
Jeremiah 30:12-17
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The Blow of the Enemy
Our sins have consequences. To be an enemy of God is a scary place to be. There is no God like our God. He is the living God and the almighty maker of heaven and earth. The battle between good and evil is not some Hollywood battle of equals depending on cunning and battle plans. There is no equal to the living God. Evil always looses. The enemy is always defeated. Our sin and our lawlessness cause the anger and wrath of God to be kindled against us like an enemy that cannot be stopped. But there is One who stops this wrath and anger. There is One who saves. There is One who makes alive. This One is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Because of Jesus' blood, Zion is now holy again. It is because of Jesus' sacrifice that you are made new and given a birth by the Holy Spirit. You are holy before your God because of this Jesus. His love also has no equal. There is not One that compares to him. He gives his everything to you.