2014-2015 Boyd's Commentary

By Dr. Victor Singletary, Dr. Peter Dare and Rev. Michael Jolla

This 2014-2015 Boyd’s Commentary continues the tradition of excellence established through the years. Sunday school directors, teachers, and students are again provided with a scholarly, stimulating, insightful, and resourceful Sunday school lesson commentary. Readers will find in its pages information that will provide the necessary insight to “rightly divide” the Word of God (see 2 Tim. 2:15). Edification is one of the primary goals of the writers of this commentary. The section titled “Exposition” provides the reader with a verse-by-verse analysis of the Scriptures and is designed to help the serious Bible student gain a deeper understanding of the Word of God. The “Lesson Applied” section provides a life application approach, which helps the reader interpret Scripture from the perspective of its practical impact on his or her life. In the “Let’s Talk About It” section, pertinent questions, which intersect with our life concerns, are raised and answered by examining what the Scripture teaches on those issues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Apr 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781589428652

Book preview

BOYD’S COMMENTARY for the Sunday School 2014-2015

VOLUME ONE HUNDRED TEN STRICTLY ORTHODOX AND PURELY BAPTISTIC

These commentaries are based on the International Uniform Sunday School Lesson Outlines, copyrighted by the Division of Christian Education, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and used by permission.

Entered according to Act of Congress in the Office of Librarian of Congress in the year 1903 at Washington, D.C. by R.H. Boyd, D.D., LL.D.

R. H. Boyd, D.D., LL.D., Founder (1896-1922)

H. A. Boyd, D.D. (1922-1959)

T. B. Boyd, Jr., D.D. (1959-1979)

Dr. T. B. Boyd III, President/CEO (1979-Present)

www.rhboydpublishing.com

Dr. T. B. Boyd III

President/CEO

David Groves, D.Min., Ph.D.

Director of Publications

Cloyd Allen

Director of Operations

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Director of Finance

LaDonna Boyd

Special Projects Coordinator

EDITORIAL STAFF:

Jennifer Moorman, B.A., B.S.

(Coordinator)

Christina Zimmerman, D.Ed.Min.

(Associate Editor)

Jared Austin, B.A., M.A.

Christopher R. Cotten, B.A., M.A.

Tia Ferrell, B.A.

Jane Ann Kenney, B.A.

Joshua McArthur, B.S., M.Div.

Karissa Taylor, B.A.

Vanessa Lewis, B.A.

Freida Crawley, B.S.

Carla Davis, B.A.

Frank DiLella

Dr. Victor Singletary

Dr. Peter Dare

Rev. Michael Jolla

Writers

Melissa Phillips

Cover Design

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COMMENTARY 2014-2015

A WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER

Welcome to the 2014-2015 edition of the Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School.

Within this commentary, pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers, and laypersons will find strong scholarly insight and interpretation to enhance their ministry as well as their daily walk with the Lord. Written by authors who have garnered a reputation in scholarship, this commentary offers great readability and accessibility without compromising its academic excellence. Many of the authors chosen for this commentary have ministerial backgrounds and so are able to incorporate their experience and expertise into their scholarship for this commentary.

R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation is also proud to have a stellar editorial team that takes great pride in its ability to polish and shape the already excellent work submitted by the authors. Together, both the authors and editors have produced a commentary that is worthy to bear the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation name and one that seeks to glorify their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our earnest expectation is that this edition of the Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School will continue the standard of excellence of commentaries past. We also hope that this commentary will be utilized to develop better disciples for the Kingdom of God.

Grace and peace to you,

Dr. T. B. Boyd III

President/CEO

A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR

I’m honored to present to you the 2014-2015 edition of Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School. Now in its 110th year, Boyd’s Commentary has a solid reputation for being committed to the truth of God’s Word and to the enduring value of that Word in providing answers for the problems of humanity. As in previous years, each lesson seeks to provide a detailed exposition of the scripture passage, as well as insight concerning how to implement the scripture passage into everyday life. Moreover, special attention is given to the myriad ways in which the Bible intersects with the social and ethical concerns that characterize the world in which we live.

Designed especially with busy pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers, and lay persons in mind, Boyd’s Commentary guides the reader in studying the biblical text, allowing him or her to uncover timeless truths and principles. The commentary is intended to be a special resource for those preparing sermons or Sunday school class lessons. Furthermore, Boyd’s Commentary includes extensive bibliographies and supplementary Hebrew and Greek terms that complement the lessons. As we place this commentary in your hands, I hope that this volume will further improve the work of the Kingdom of God. I pray that the ministries of the readers be aided so that the Kingdom of God will continue to spread throughout in the world.

Rev. David Groves, D.Min., Ph.D.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

The layout of the 2014-2015 Commentary has been formatted for easy use in the classroom. In keeping with our rich history of publishing quality Christian literature, the Unifying Principle is one helpful feature that enhances our commentary. Listed below are explanations of all features and their intended use.

Lesson Setting: Gives the basic timeline and place for the events in the lesson.

Lesson Outline: Provides the topics used in the exposition of the lesson.

Unifying Principle: States the main idea for the lesson across age groups. This feature allows the teacher to understand exactly what each lesson is about.

Introduction: Gives the thesis and also any background information that will be useful in the study of the lesson.

Exposition: Provides the exegetical study done by the writer, breaking down the text for discussion.

The Lesson Applied: Provides possible life applications of the biblical text for today’s learners.

Let’s Talk About It: Highlights ideas from the text in a question-and-answer format.

Home Daily Devotional Readings: Located at the end of each lesson, the topics are designed to lead into the following lesson.

Know Your Writers

Dr. Victor Singletary

A clergyperson for twenty-six years, Rev. Victor M. Singletary serves as pastor of Cambria Heights Community Church in New York City in the twenty-first century context of religious dynamism and pluralism. His religion and spirituality column, A Mustard Seed of Encouragement and Empowerment, and his blogs, Ephesians 3:20 Faith and In the Pastor’s Study, explore the quest for authentic faith, with intellectual respectability and practical application, amongst diverse voices within public discourse. Singletary is a graduate of Dartmouth College (A.B.), Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York (M.Div.), New York University GSAS (M.A.), and Teachers College Columbia University (Ed.M.). Singletary utilizes his theological and historical training and years of experience to learn with people of all faiths.

Dr. Peter Dare

The son of West African immigrants, Rev. Dr. Peter Dare was born and raised in Montreal. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal with a degree in philosophy, Rev. Dare completed studies in theology at Emmanuel College, University of Toronto, which awarded him the M.T.S. with honors. He then went on to complete the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees at Durham University in the United Kingdom. His dissertation compared rival understandings of the virtues in Stoic philosophy and the letters of the Apostle Peter. While at Durham, he was blessed to participate in joint Anglican-Baptist dialogue. After graduation, Rev. Dare returned to Canada, where he was ordained by the United Church of Canada. Presently, he serves as the pastor of a congregation in Toronto, where he lives with his wife and son. Rev. Dare also enjoys the work he does on the board of a local rescue mission.

Rev. Michael A. Jolla

Rev. Michael A. Jolla serves as senior pastor of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, Texas. He received his master of divinity from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in 1992. He is currently seeking his doctorate of ministry from George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas. In August 2006, Rev. Jolla did additional doctoral study at Oxford University in London, England. He is an instructor at D. Edwin Johnson Bible Institute, in Dallas, Texas, and for the National Baptist Sunday School and BTU Congress. Rev. Jolla has received many awards for humanitarian services and was the first African American to receive the Key to the City of Greenville, Texas. Other awards include Outstanding Faculty Award, D. Edwin Johnson, and humanitarian awards from the NAACP and NACWC (National Association of Colored Women Club) Darcus Club. Rev. Jolla is married to Sandra Reese Jolla and has two daughters, Brasha (15) and Brianna (13).

2014-2015 LESSON OVERVIEW

Four major themes are explored in this year’s commentary. The first theme is Sustaining Hope (September—November 2014), which examines how different authors of the Old Testament were able to maintain their faith in God even during trying times. Some of the particular books studied in this quarter are Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Job, Ezekiel, and Isaiah. The second theme is Acts of Worship (December 2014—February 2015). For this quarter, the reasons God is worthy of all praise are explored, the proper ways to pray are studied, and biblical teachings on stewardship are explained. The Spirit Comes (March—May 2015) is the third theme. This theme will look at the different ways the Holy Spirit prepares and empowers Christians for their work in bringing God’s Kingdom to earth. Finally, the fourth theme is God’s Prophets Demand Justice (June—August 2015). This quarter includes an in-depth analysis of the Old Testament prophets’ condemnation of oppression and their cries for justice.

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Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School (2014-2015)

Copyright © 2014 by R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

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Scripture passages marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scriptures taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in part or in whole in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America.

The publisher, R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation, bears no responsibility or liability for any claim, demand, action, or proceeding related to its content, including but not limited to claims of plagiarism, copyright infringement, defamation, obscenity, or the violation of the rights of privacy, publicity, or any other right of any person or party, and makes no warranties regarding the content.

PREFACE

The 2014-2015 Boyd’s Commentary has been formatted and written with you in mind. This format is to help you further your preparation and study of the Sunday school lessons.

We have presented a parallel Scripture lesson passage with the New Revised Standard Version alongside the King James Version. This allows you to have a clearer and more contemporary approach to the Scripture. This version is very reliable and reputable. It will bless you as you rightly [divide] the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15, KJV).

These lessons have a new look, but they still have the same accurate interpretation, concise Christian doctrine, and competent, skilled scholarship.

The abbreviations used throughout the commentary are as follows:

KJV — King James Version

NIV — New International Version

NRSV — New Revised Standard Version

To the pastor: It is our hope that this commentary will provide context and insight for your sermons. Also, we hope this commentary will serve as a preparatory aid for the message of God. To the Bible teacher: This commentary also has you in mind. It can be used as a ready reference to the background of the text and difficult terms that are used in the Bible. To be sure, this commentary will provide your lesson study with the historical context that will enable you to better interpret the text for your students.

Lastly, this text is for anyone who wants to get a glimpse at the glory of God. This commentary seeks to highlight and lift the workings of God with His people and to make God’s history with humanity ever present.

We hope and pray that God will bless you and keep you as you diligently study His mighty and majestic Word. Remain ever steadfast to our one eternal God. Keep the faith and pray always.

CONTENTS

FIRST QUARTER

SECOND QUARTER

THIRD QUARTER

FOURTH QUARTER

FIRST QUARTER

Lesson material is based on International Sunday School Lessons and International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching. Copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education and is used by its permission.

SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER 2014

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WRITER: DR. VICTOR SINGLETARY

SUGGESTED OPENING EXERCISES

1.  Usual Signal for Beginning

2.  Prayer (Closing with the Lord’s Prayer)

3.  Singing (Song to Be Selected)

4.  Scripture Reading:

Exodus 25:9; 27:20-21 (KJV)

Director: According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

School: And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

All: In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

Recitation in Concert:

Joshua 22:16, 18-19 (KJV)

16 Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?

18 But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.

19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.

CLOSING WORK

1.  Singing

2.  Sentences:

Revelation 21:1, 3-4, 6-7 (KJV)

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

3.  Dismissal with Prayer

A VISION OF THE FUTURE

JEREMIAH 30:1-3, 18-22

MAIN THOUGHT: For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. (Jeremiah 30:3, KJV)

LESSON SETTING

Time:   ca. 600 B.C.

Place:   Jerusalem

LESSON OUTLINE

I.  A Written Promise of Consolation

(Jeremiah 30:1-3)

II.  Israel’s Coming Restoration

(Jeremiah 30:18-22)

UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

People often find themselves in situations when they feel lost and alone. How do they regain a sense of belonging? Jeremiah tells of God’s promise to restore the fortunes of the people, Israel and Judah, and to reestablish the covenant with them.

INTRODUCTION

The book of Jeremiah is one of the longest and most complex books in the Bible. The ministry of Jeremiah began around 627 B.C., during the reign of Josiah and ended shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. This was a turbulent time. Assyria was weakened after the death of its last noteworthy king, Assurbanipal, in 627 B.C. After this king died, Assyria was unable to stave off the rise of the Babylonians and the Medes. This is also the same year many scholars believe Jeremiah received his call (Patrick D. Miller, The Book of Jeremiah in The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 6 [Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001], 555).

With the weakening of Assyria, the people of Judah were able to rid themselves of Assyrian influences under the reign of King Josiah. Josiah began a series of reforms in the eighteenth year of his reign (622 B.C.). These reforms were spurred on by the discovery of a copy of the Law in the temple. Josiah set out to rid Judah and even Israel of idol worship and other pagan practices. Eventually, Josiah was killed at Megiddo in 609 B.C. after he unsuccessfully tried to form an alliance with Egypt against Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated the Egyptians in 605 B.C., which also led to the total end of Assyrian power and made Babylon the leading world power at the time (Miller, 559).

King Jehoiakim was placed in charge of Judah after the death of his father, Josiah. He pledged allegiance to Babylon for a short while, but then foolishly turned on Babylon (see 2 Kings 24:1). Within three months, Jerusalem was captured by Babylon, and Jehoiakim and several prominent citizens were taken into Babylonian captivity. Zedekiah then became king of Judah. He was a weak king who could not stand up to his enemies (ibid.). Eventually, the Babylonians laid full siege to Jerusalem in 587/6 B.C. and destroyed the temple. Zedekiah was forced to watch his sons be executed before having his eyes put out. He was then taken into captivity.

The book of Jeremiah deals with these chaotic events in Judah’s history. The book is filled with strong words of judgment for Judah’s sins against God—the punishment being seventy years in Babylonian exile for the Israelites. Yet, in the midst of these pronouncements of judgment, several prophecies of (eventual) return and restoration are found in chapters 30—33. Reference to chapters 30—33 is commonly found at the beginning of chapter thirty, (see Jer. 30:1-2). This book is known for its distinct poetic character (Miller, 804) and offers hope not to just Judah, but also Israel. The next two lessons will detail some of the words of hope found in this Book of Consolation.

EXPOSITION

I.  A WRITTEN PROMISE OF CONSOLATION

(JEREMIAH 30:1-3)

The Lord instructs Jeremiah to write His promise of restoration down in a book. In the future, when the people are delivered from their anguish and oppression, the Lord wants them to be able to recall His gracious role in liberating them. He wants them to remember His promise of salvation made many years before. As they read the promise in retrospect, they will credit the Lord for fulfilling His promise by orchestrating the details of their freedom and restoration.

The third verse contains God’s essential promise of restoration: For the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors and they shall take possession of it (NRSV). Jeremiah forewarns the people of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms about the future consequences of their present sin. Intractable rebellion against the character, holiness, and Law of God had led to Israel’s conquest and oppression by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. Judah would experience the same fate at the hands of the Babylonians in 587 B.C. Nevertheless, as Jeremiah chastises the people for their iniquity, he also offers a word of divine assurance of renewal and return. This prophecy perfectly reveals God’s character. He is a holy and righteous God who will not tolerate wanton transgressions of His Law. He will also not tolerate those who disregard His holiness. He will not allow His chosen people to trample upon His grace. Nevertheless, He loves Israel and Judah with an unfailing covenantal love. Even as He allows them to reap justly what they have sown, He graciously and mercifully prepares to lovingly forgive and restore Israel and Judah. Since God promised the land of Canaan as an inheritance to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He continually adheres to the covenant He made. Thus God will return the Jews to that land even after their captivity.

As Israel’s unfailing Good Shepherd who selflessly cares for His people, the Lord recognizes and respects their fear and pain. He acknowledges the cries of fear and dread among the people. In fact, they are so scared about their well-being that even grown men are holding their loins as if they were mothers in labor (see Jer. 30:6). Nevertheless, the prophet steadfastly pronounces the coming of the Lord’s consolation. A new dawn will emerge when His people will travel back to the land they inherited from their forefathers and enjoy a bright and prosperous future in a familiar place.

The prophet utilizes equally powerful imagery to depict the Lord’s promised delivery of Israel and Judah from bondage in verses 8-17. God will break the oppressors’ yoke from Israel’s and Judah’s necks. He will sever the chains of bondage; foreigners will no longer enslave His people. In exchange, He will anoint a ruler in the lineage of King David. This monarch will function concurrently as king and priest of the nation of Israel. Like times of old, Israel and Judah will serve the LORD their God (v. 9, NRSV) as they obey the king.

Accordingly, there is no need to allow fear to paralyze them. God will surely deliver them from a distant place and protect their descendants. Their children will not be slaves. They will assume their rightful inheritance as children of God who had made an oath with their forefathers. Israel and Judah will again live in peace and prosperity. No one will ever be able to make them feel fear again. What an incredible promise! The eleventh verse is one of the cardinal assurances of this Book of Consolation. One of the greatest reassurances the Lord makes is His abiding presence in the midst of adversity: For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you (v. 11, NRSV). Though He will destroy the nations that scatter and subjugate His people, He will not allow those foreign nations to completely destroy His people. Again, He will rescue and renew them and bring them to a place of prosperity.

Discipline is an educative tool to help a person correct his or her errors. For Israel and Judah, the Lord permits their captivity by foreigners to enable them to contrast the results of self-reliance and societal decadence with the prosperity and security of genuinely relying upon Him for all things. The same is true today. The Lord still extends His grace and favor to all generations of believers, even as He also disciplines us out of love.

In a moment of intense anger and disappointment, an emotionally volatile parent usually misses an opportunity for a teaching moment. Instead, a parent’s frustration that a child has failed yet again to learn a lesson by making the same mistake repeatedly compels severe chastisement and verbal excess. Parents may regret saying something as they observe the deep emotional and psychological wound reflected on the face of their child. An approach combining consolation with chastisement would be more empowering. After all, the child still needs to learn the lesson and improve his or her behavior.

The Lord’s discipline of Israel and Judah assumes this technique. In verses 12-15, Jeremiah recites the nation’s sins. He characterizes their guilt as superlative and their sins as countless. As a consequence, he tells them their cries for relief are useless. The wound of offense against God’s holy character is so deep that it is incurable at first glance. Moreover, the oppression they will experience will be so fierce and unrelenting because of their great guilt and many sins. In addition, the prideful commission of their sinful deeds means they deserve the adverse consequences. Jeremiah informs Israel and Judah that they will suffer the end results of their behavior notwithstanding the genuineness of their guilt and regret. Simply, there is no need to plead their defense or offer a rebuttal to the Lord’s decree. He will punish them with the cruelty of an enemy. Their predicament is so dire that even their allies will forget them and fail to come to their aid.

In stark contrast to the considerable chastisement in the preceding verses, the Lord consoles His people in the sixteenth and seventeenth verses with the same measure with which He rebuked them. The Lord promises to lift the yoke of oppression and to send Israel and Judah’s enemies into exile. He will visit upon their adversaries the same punishment that they bestowed upon His people. Like a protective Father, the Lord will enter the battle on behalf of His children and cause their opponents to flee. Further, He will plunder their enemies and graciously give the spoils to His people. Ironically, their deepest distress will yield a bountiful blessing as it will enrich them for the future with gold, silver, and livestock.

II.  ISRAEL’S COMING RESTORATION

(JEREMIAH 30:18-22)

In verse eighteen, Jeremiah writes that everyone can take comfort in the Lord’s willingness to restore the fortunes of Israel. Practically speaking, every household will recoup its former possessions no matter how extensive its loss. Families will rebuild and recover everything that has been lost. In addition, God will impart compassion on their dwellings. He will transform the bricks of ruin into blocks for restoration. Where desolation was widely visible, new construction and vibrant commerce and communities will stand.

Essentially, Jeremiah announces the purpose of God’s heart for Israel. His pledge of consolation following their forthcoming destruction maintains God’s unwavering commitment to the covenant He made with Israel in Genesis 12. God loyally loves Israel. He certifies His oath to Israel on the basis of His name and character which He cannot contradict. His faithful commitment to His people is not subject to human validation. Therefore, the collective sin of the nation cannot negate the covenant or the blessings it bestows. In response to their tremendous guilt and innumerable sins, Israel and Judah rightly will experience divine judgment and punishment. Still, God adheres to His covenant as He pledges renewal and restoration for His people. He will return Israel and Judah to the land He promised to their forefathers. Moreover, He will transform their ruined lives into new creations as they enjoy security and prosperity under the canopy of His limitless love and unending grace.

Songs often denote happy times in our lives. Most people begin to smile and sing along when an endearing song from their adolescence comes on the radio. It brings back such wonderful memories of innocence, unlimited dreams, and carefree living. Upon their return to the Promised Land, Israel and Judah will sing songs of thanksgiving and praise to God for His covenantal deliverance. The sounds of rejoicing will resound throughout the land. In addition, the birth rate will rise. The Jews will desire eagerly to have children in a peaceful and stable environment as they know their posterity will be secure. It will be as if someone turned back the clock and brought them back to the days of youth, vigor, and unlimited imagination.

Also, their ruler will be one of their very own and not a foreigner. This head of state will be someone who rightly relates himself to God and thereby secures His perpetual blessings upon the nation. Chief among them is protection against any future enemies. The fierce anger of the LORD (v. 24, NRSV) will not relent until He accomplishes these promises on behalf of His people dwelling closely to Him. He will fulfill His promise because it accords with what the purposes of His heart are for Israel and Judah.

THE LESSON APPLIED

Recent natural disasters in the United States and throughout the world offer a visual parallel to Israel’s and Judah’s destruction. In August 2005, the city of New Orleans suffered unprecedented devastation. Aerial video footage and photos showed a city immersed in high levels of water. In the neighboring states of Alabama and Mississippi, news reporters filmed people waiting on the roofs of their homes and praying for rescue before the water levels overtook them. Seven years later, in October 2012, Hurricane Sandy decimated large areas of New York and New Jersey. In both natural disasters, many people lost every material possession they owned. Years of hard work and savings were washed away. The storm ruthlessly consumed their hard-earned property and mercilessly erased sentimental mementos symbolizing years of their lives. Imagine the fear and hopelessness these people felt as they experienced such loss.

These same feelings and emotions were felt, too, by Israel and Judah as they suffered devastation. Everything that the people held sacred was now gone and scattered to ends of the earth like dust in the wind. Yet, just as the Jews found peace and comfort in the words of Jeremiah, so, too, can people today find peace in knowing that God is with them even in times of tragedy.

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

1.  Can Christians today find comfort in Jeremiah’s Book of Consolation?

While the promises in Jeremiah 30—31 are directed toward the Jews to give them comfort in the midst of the coming destruction to Jerusalem, Christians today can still find consolation in the goodness of the Lord’s promises. God promises to restore Israel and Judah to their former levels of prosperity. Christians today can be encouraged to know that whenever we mess up or drift away from the Lord, He is willing to restore us to a right relationship with Him. We can heed the words of the Apostle James: Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you (James 4:8, NRSV).

HOME DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS

SEPTEMBER 8-14, 2014

RESTORATION

JEREMIAH 31:31-37

MAIN THOUGHT: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. (Jeremiah 31:31, KJV)

LESSON SETTING

Time:   ca. 600 B.C.

Place:   Jerusalem

LESSON OUTLINE

I.  The Lord Promises a New Covenant

(Jeremiah 31:31-33)

II.  The Lord Assures Israel of Her Perpetuity

(Jeremiah 31:34-37)

UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

Sometimes agreements and relationships must be revised and renewed. How can the faithful make sure all aspects of their lives encourage wholeness and spiritual growth in present circumstances? Jeremiah assures the people that God will make a new covenant with His people that will nurture and equip them for the present and the future.

INTRODUCTION

If God is all-knowing and ever-present, assuredly He can prevent evil before it happens. If He is all-powerful, then He can eradicate evil from human existence. Why, then, does evil exist? Perhaps, Israel and Judah also asked this question from an experiential standpoint as they observed the wholesale desolation of their way of life. Adding insult to injury, their way of life had been bequeathed to them by their ancestors on the basis of promises that God made. Did God sadistically manipulate them into serving Him when He knew He had no intentions of adhering to His oath? Had they been wasting their time in devotion to a God who lacked the power to adhere to His promises?

Jeremiah 31 takes place just prior to the Babylonian exile. In this chapter, the prophet records God’s unimaginable promise to return them to the Promised Land and restore their lives to a previously inconceivable level of prosperity and peace. This chapter is the second half of the Book of Consolation that we began studying last week. Even though Israel and Judah are suffering heartache, they can find comfort in God’s promise to restore them. Jeremiah proclaims these divine assurances despite standing in the midst of people who are about to be living under the threat of the Babylonian siege. He pledges the Lord’s faithfulness. God will adhere meticulously to the covenant even during His people’s adverse conditions. His faithfulness proves His love and loyalty to them. His love is redemptive and powerful and will thereby empower them during days of exile and encourage them to persevere until their return to the Promised Land. Finally, Jeremiah will offer them the promise of a new covenant between God and His people.

In the initial verses of Jeremiah 31, Jeremiah opens this announcement with a word of renewal and recommitment from God to Israel and Judah. Even though the Lord’s relationship with them stems from the covenant He made with their forefathers, He will renew it with them directly. Their relationship to Him will be intensely personal. In the second verse, the Lord promises them a meaningful and fruitful existence in exile. Those persons who survive exile will find divine favor in their times of trouble. In addition, the exile experience will be a time of preparation as they await their return to the land previously sworn to their forefathers.

God uses hard experiences to burn off the dross of our character. Experiences such as significant loss and death force us to rely genuinely upon God for provision and protection. As we more rightly relate to Him, we assume His character and resolve the defects within our personalities. Times in the wilderness require hard work both physically and spiritually. When we are physically and spiritually exhausted, God promises to grant rest to us.

In the next few verses, the Lord invites the exiles to envision a bright and prosperous future. Although they cannot believe it presently, He reassures them they will once again sing, dance, and rejoice in familiar places. They will sing new songs. They will play old instruments. They will drink new wine from new vineyards. They will feast and make merry back at the homestead. The day will dawn when the watchman on the fortified walls of the city will cry aloud and encourage the people to travel to Zion on pilgrimage to commune with their God.

God promises to faithfully enact the terms of the covenant even though Israel failed to comply. His character compels His faithfulness and the fulfillment of the pledges He makes. In our day, we draft and sign contracts containing thousands of words and millions of characters. We insert hundreds of clauses to ensure all parties comply with the conditions and terms of the transaction. These stipulations attempt to prevent injury to all parties, particularly persons who uphold their part of the agreement. However, a signature on a contract is utterly meaningless if the person signing does not possess a strong ethical character that compels compliance to the agreement. Such a person usually looks for an escape clause of absolution to avoid responsibility and accountability. Israel’s pervasive and perpetual rebellion, limitless disobedience, and proclivity to serve other gods combined to offer God exemption from the covenant He made with them. In great contrast to this perfectly permissible legal means of release, God still faithfully adheres to the covenant. God’s keeping of His word will also enable other nations to observe His holy, trustworthy, and honest character. Otherwise, they could discount Him as a God who fails to keep His promises.

Jeremiah tells Israel to rejoice well in advance. Upon their return, the people will sing loudly and delightfully on the heights of Mount Zion, according to verse twelve. Not only will they praise God for their return, they will rejoice over His bounty and prosperity in their new lives. They will drink new wine. Grain and oil will be plentiful. The livestock will be young and tender. The prophet uses the image of a well-watered and flourishing garden to depict the future riches they will enjoy. Even beyond the material, physical, and financial blessings that await them, the people will experience the peace of the Lord. He will turn their mourning into gladness and permanently take away their pain and sorrow.

Despite the joy which Jeremiah details in the preceding verses, according to verse fifteen, Israel’s heart is very heavy with anguish, loss, and bewilderment. Try as hard as they may, the people cannot look forward. Their hearts are heavy as they consider the incalculable value of everything they lost in the captivity.

In verses 21-26, Jeremiah sees the road leading back to Israel’s homeland. The word of the Lord instructs him to set up road signs and milestones to lead the people of Israel back to their land of inheritance. The Lord will show the people the route to take. In a very loving gesture, the Lord refers to Israel as a virgin, symbolizing His willingness to forget the people’s past sins of infidelity in serving other gods. Upon her return, Israel will be new and completely cleansed of the former way of life. The people will turn their hearts back to Yahweh; they will no longer adulterate themselves in polytheism and syncretism. They will wander no longer in the wilderness of self-righteousness. Israel will love the Lord through obedience and faithfulness and will find love, peace, and security under the canopy of the Lord’s provision and protection. Hence, the people will not wander aimlessly looking for love. Unimaginable blessings, prosperity, and joy await them.

EXPOSITION

I.  THE LORD PROMISES A NEW COVENANT

(JEREMIAH 31:31-33)

This second chapter of the Book of Consolation culminates in the promise of a new covenant. A new relationship between God and Israel is the essence of restoration. What difference will the people’s physical return to the Promised Land make if they remain the same internally? Hence, the Lord promises a new covenant to Israel and Judah. It will not be entirely like the old covenant that He made with their forefathers. In the thirty-second verse, Jeremiah insinuates that the generation that lived in Egypt only adhered mentally to the covenant. They desired its rewards without heeding its requirements. They sought ways to evade its stipulations. Essentially, they never internalized the