Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

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This is one of the greatest messages that the Old Testament contains. Were we to distinguish degrees of importance by difference of type, then these verses ought to be printed in the boldest lettering, so as to catch every eye. Here is a prophecy that foretells Christianity, that anticipates the New Testament.¹

CONTEXT

I will be their God—(ch. 32:38). 34. they shall teach no more … every man his brother … for they shall all know me from the least … unto the greatest of them. True specially of Israel (Isa. 54:13); secondarily true of believers (John 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:10; 1 John 2:20). I will forgive their iniquity, and … remember their sin no more—(ch. 33:8; 50:20; Mic. 7:18, 19) applying peculiarly to Israel (Rom. 11:20, 27); secondarily, all believers (Acts 10:43).

A. R. Fausset, A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Jeremiah–Malachi, vol. IV (London; Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited, n.d.), 110.

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Salvation always requires initiation by God (I will make). The new covenant is the heart of Jeremiah’s Book of Consolation (chs. 30–33). The phrase is unique among the Hebrew prophets to Jeremiah, but the concept is not (Isa. 42:6; 49:8; 54:10; 55:3; 61:8; Ezek. 34:25; 37:26). This is the largest Old Testament text quoted in its entirety in the New Testament (Heb. 8:8–12; 10:16–17). Since much of the covenant is a repetition of earlier promises, it is best to understand this as a renewed covenant rather than as brand new. Whereas the old covenant had a shadowy character, with types and ceremonies, the new covenant brings a greater clarity, a more abundant measure of the Spirit, and freedom from ceremonies and the rigor of the law. Each promise is a precious declaration of sovereign grace. God will write the law in their hearts, which is to shatter the hardened mindset of sin (17:1) and create a new desire to do God’s will by the Spirit (Ps. 40:8; 2 Cor. 3:3, 6). God promises to take them as my people and be their God, which is to establish a lasting union and loving fellowship between the Lord and redeemed sinners (vv. 1–3; Ex. 6:6–7; 29:45–46; Ezek. 37:27). In this spiritual communion, even the least of the new covenant people know the LORD with a heart knowledge that enriches the soul and transforms the life (9:24; 22:16; 24:7). These promises are grounded upon God’s foundational work (for I will) of atoning for the guilt of their sins (Isa. 53) so that He will remember their sin no more; i.e., He will never approach them in wrath or punish them again (14:10; Isa. 54:9–10). Though Jeremiah looked forward to a future restoration, the essence of the grace promised in the new covenant operates every time an individual, whether Jew or Gentile, in the old or new dispensation, is regenerated. The new covenant rests upon Christ’s finished work of redemption by His death (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; Heb. 9:15–16).

Joel R. Beeke, Michael P. V. Barrett, and Gerald M. Bilkes, eds., The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014), 1079.

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Jeremiah 31:31-33

DEVOTIONAL

“I will be their God.”  —Jeremiah 31:33

Christian! here is all thou canst require. To make thee happy thou wantest something that shall satisfy thee; and is not this enough? If thou canst pour this promise into thy cup, wilt thou not say, with David, “My cup runneth over; I have more than heart can wish”? When this is fulfilled, “I am thy God”, art thou not possessor of all things? Desire is insatiable as death, but he who filleth all in all can fill it. The capacity of our wishes who can measure? but the immeasurable wealth of God can more than overflow it. I ask thee if thou art not complete when God is thine? Dost, thou want anything but God? Is not his all-sufficiency enough to satisfy thee if all else should fail? But thou wantest more than quiet satisfaction; thou desirest rapturous delight. Come, soul, here is music fit for heaven in this thy portion, for God is the Maker of Heaven. Not all the music blown from sweet instruments, or drawn from living strings, can yield such melody as this sweet promise, “I will be their God.” Here is a deep sea of bliss, a shoreless ocean of delight; come, bathe thy spirit in it; swim an age, and thou shalt find no shore; dive throughout eternity, and thou shalt find no bottom. “I will be their God.” If this do not make thine eyes sparkle, and thy heart beat high with bliss, then assuredly thy soul is not in a healthy state. But thou wantest more than present delights—thou cravest something concerning which thou mayest exercise hope; and what more canst thou hope for than the fulfilment of this great promise, “I will be their God”? This is the masterpiece of all the promises; its enjoyment makes a heaven below, and will make a heaven above. Dwell in the light of thy Lord, and let thy soul be always ravished with his love. Get out the marrow and fatness which this portion yields thee. Live up to thy privileges, and rejoice with unspeakable joy.

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).

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1. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/hastings/jeremiah/31-31.htm ↩︎