Fifty Two Weeks / Jeremiah 31

Weeping

Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet with good reason. His ministry covered one of the worst times in Judah’s history. Jerusalem was surrounded by the armies of king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The siege lasted a year and a half and the suffering was great and culminated in the utter destruction of the city. 

This same situation appeared imminent during Isaiah’s day. The city was surrounded by Sennacherib of Syria and dire threats were issued. The Word of the Lord through Isaiah was defiance against Assyria and it was vindicated by an angelic intervention. Isaiah was something of a prophetic hero (at least until the reign of Manasseh). 

The Word of the Lord through Jeremiah was quite different. Jeremiah had the task of telling the king and the people to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was God’s instrument to punish Judah for her sins. You can imagine how well that played on Fox News. Not only did Jeremiah have to witness the destruction of Jerusalem and the terrible suffering of the people, but his thanks for bringing the Word of the Lord was to become a pariah among his people. No wonder he was the “Weeping Prophet”.

Dancing

Therefore, it seems only just that Jeremiah was granted the pleasure of announcing the New Covenant. 

It seems so out of character for Jeremiah to write a sermon filled with so much joy. Even the men, both young and old, are dancing. Mourning is turned to joy. Sorrow is turned to rejoicing. Actually I don’t think it was out of character for Jeremiah at all. Clearly Jeremiah did not want to bring such a hard message to Judah, but he had no choice. He could either bring God’s Word or simply make stuff up. He tried just being quiet but that didn’t work. Now that God has given him such a joyous word he was eager.

The New Covenant

In Luke 22 we hear Jesus speak of the cup at the Last Supper calling it the Cup of the New Covenant. That phrase “New Covenant” had not been heard since the time of Jeremiah almost 600 years before. Interestingly, Jeremiah compares this New Covenant with the covenant God established with Israel at the exodus from Egypt.That old covenant was remembered each year in the Passover meal; the very meal which Jesus was sharing with His disciples when He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.”

Jeremiah’s description of the New Covenant is exactly what Jesus provided.

• It will not be dependent on the ability of the people to follow rules. It will be based on a sovereign work of God Himself.
• This covenant will involve an inward work that takes place in a person’s heart.
• This covenant will enable people to come to know God personally on an individual basis not solely dependent on corporate actions.
• On the basis of this covenant the Lord will forgive our wickedness and remember our sins no more.

We are familiar with the terms and work of the gospel. We look at this list and tend to say, “Of course.” Place yourself in Judah around 26 centuries ago. All you’ve ever known is the Law of Moses. Furthermore, everything around you is falling apart. Now - read the terms of this New Covenant again. You certainly wouldn’t be saying, “Of course.” You would be stunned either at the audacity of such a pronouncement, or the seeming impossibility of such a thing ever happening. And if you were a weeping prophet… it might just make you want to dance.