Watchman Radio Hour

Announcer: Welcome to the Watchman Radio Hour, coming to you from Portland, Oregon, here in the beautiful Northwest. This is David Shaltier, announcer. The Watchman Radio Hour is a production of Watchman Radio Ministries International, an evangelistic ministry reaching out to the peoples of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And now, here's our speaker Alex Dodson to bring you this week's message from God's Word.

Alex Dodson: We continue today our series on Jeremiah 31.

There's much in this chapter that applies to Jewish people and their descendants, both at the time the prophecy was given and also on into the future. This chapter also points ahead to Christ and the Church.

The prophet Jeremiah not only prophesied that the Jewish people would be carried into captivity to Babylon, he also gave them comfort and told them that one day they would return to their own land. It was not the end. A better time would come.

And so our text for today is Jeremiah 31 and verses 15 through 17 and following.

Let us hear the Word of God.

Beginning in verse 15, "This is what the Lord says: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because her children are no more.' This is what the Lord says: 'Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,' declares the Lord. 'And they will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future,' declares the Lord. 'Your children will return to their own land. I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented. After I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth. Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I will remember him. And therefore my heart yearns for him. I have great compassion for him,' declares the Lord. 'Set up road signs, put up guide posts, take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to your towns. How long will you wander, unfaithful daughter? The Lord will create a new thing on earth. A woman will surround a man.'"

Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the Bible that you've given to us. We thank you that it's your Word that we can put our full confidence in everything that it says. And now as we come to study your Word today, we pray that you will send your Holy Spirit in great convicting power. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

Israel would return to their own land. This is what the Lord was saying. Though now they were being taken into captivity to Babylon, a time would come when they would return. There's great hope here for Israel. God will not forsake his people. He had a plan and he would carry out that plan.

Let us see in the first place that it was a time of weeping.

"This is what the Lord says," in verse 15, "a voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because her children are no more."

At that time this weeping occurred, a key verse here is Jeremiah 40 and verse one, which helped us to understand. It says, "The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan, commander of the imperial guard, had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon."

So here we see that the Jews were gathered together in chains at a place called Ramah, and they were waiting to be carried in exile to Babylon. And this is where the weeping occurred at that time. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, in their great commentary, writes, "Ramah was in Benjamin, east of the great northern road, two hours' journey from Jerusalem. Rachel, who all her life had pined for children and died with sorrow in giving birth to Benjamin, was buried at Ramah, near Bethlehem, is represented here as raising her head from the tomb and is breaking forth into weeping at seeing the whole land depopulated of sons, the Ephraimites."

"Ramah was the place where Nebuzaradan collected all the Jews in chains previous to their removal to Babylon." And then John Broaddus in his commentary writes, "When Nebuchadnezzar ordered that the people should be carried into captivity, the persons selected were assembled previous to setting out at Ramah, which may have been Ramah in the tribe of Benjamin, about five miles north of Jerusalem and ten miles from Bethlehem. Or else, some place of that name near Bethlehem. Their captivity seemed to threaten the complete destruction of the nation with all their natural hopes, and the bitter grief of the people is poetically described by representing Rachel, one of the mothers of the nation, the mother of that tribe in whose territory the exiles were assembled, as risen from the grave and bewailing their destruction."

"While the prophet comforts here with the assurance that there is hope for the future for the people will be restored."

And then there is also a New Testament fulfillment of this very verse. In Matthew 2, verses 13 through 18, it says, "When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.' And so he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet, 'Out of Egypt I called my son.' And when Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious. And he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. And then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah," this verse we're studying, "then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are no more.'"

So there we have the New Testament telling us that this same passage, Jeremiah 31:15, was fulfilled when Herod was killing the babies in Bethlehem in the vicinity. John Broaddus writes, "In both cases, too, the grief at actual distresses is unnecessarily embittered by this despair as to the future. For the youthful Messiah had not really perished, just as the captivity would not utterly destroy Israel. In both cases, the would-be destroyers fail, and blessings are in store for the people of God."

And then we see in the second place, a promise here of hope. Israel would return in the future. Verses 16 and 17, "This is what the Lord says: 'Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,' declares the Lord. 'They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future,' declares the Lord. 'Your children will return to their own land.'"

Now this is a clear prophecy. The Jews would return to their own land. And they did this under Ezra and Nehemiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel, 70 years later. They would have a future. The nation was not destroyed forever. They would return, and there was hope for them and their children. Their children would return.

And then we see that they would be a repentant people. Verse 18, "I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented. After I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth. Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him, I have great compassion for him,' declares the Lord."

Ephraim here just refers here to the people of Israel, to the whole people of the Jews, not just the Northern Kingdom. When they returned, they came back as one people, no longer divided. When they would when they would return, they would once again worship the Lord and be a repentant people. Great revival took place when Ezra under Ezra, Ezra and Nehemiah when they returned.

In Nehemiah 8, 5 through 10, it says, "Ezra Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them, and as he opened it, the people stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen, Amen.' And then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites, Jeshua, Binui, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Peliah instructed the people in the law. While the people were standing there, they read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, 'This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep,' for all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the law. Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"

The Lord then welcomed the prodigal back. He had great compassion for his people. They do come back to their land and to the Lord, and to the Lord as evidenced by this great revival that took place after they returned.

And then we see in the third place, that they returned to await the Messiah. Verses 21 and 22, "Set up road signs, put up guide posts, take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to your towns. How long will you wander, O unfaithful daughter? The Lord will create a new thing on earth. A woman will surround a man." And so the Lord tells these exiles, "Mark your way, remember the way that you went." The Lord tells the people of Israel to remember how to remember how they left, to remember the way, for they would surely return to that land one day. Here again is God's promise to the Jewish people that all was not lost, one day they would return.

And then in verse 22, he indicates that the Messiah would come. Verse 22 again says, "How long will you wander, O unfaithful daughter? The Lord will create a new thing on earth. A woman will surround a man." Though there's a difference of opinion as to what this verse means, many do interpret it as a foretelling of the coming of the Messiah. Matthew Henry writes, "Many good interpreters understand this new thing created in that land to be the Incarnation of Christ, which God had in eye too in bringing them back to that land, and which at some times had been given them for a sign." And then Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown in their commentary write, "But the Christian fathers, Augustine and the others, almost unanimously interpreted this verse of the Virgin Marycompassing Christ in her womb."

And so this is how we interpret this passage. It's referring to the coming of the Messiah. When the Jews came back to the land of Israel, they rebuilt the temple that had been destroyed 70 years earlier. We read about the rebuilding of the temple in Ezra 3, verses 10 through 13.

"When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord as prescribed by David, King of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: 'He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.' And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was being laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads who had seen the former temple wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise and the sound was heard far away."

Now those who had seen the first temple wept because the second temple was inferior to that first temple. It did not compare to the glory of Solomon's temple, that first temple. Yet it was this second temple to which the Messiah would come. And therefore it would be more glorious than the first temple, because the Lord himself would come to it and bring glory to that second temple.

In John 1:14, it says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." The great prophecy in Haggai 2, 1 through 9. It talks about that second temple. It says, "On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 'Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them: 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work, for I am with you,' declares the Lord, declares the Lord Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.' This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house.' This house you're building, 'I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty.'"

Now what a magnificent prophecy this is. The Messiah would come. After the Jews returned to their land, it would be a while. It would be some years before this happened, but it would happen. And many of the Old Testament believers were looking forward to that time when the Messiah would arrive, believing the promise. When the time for Jesus to be born came, there were Jewish believers there to welcome his coming, such as Zechariah and Elizabeth, Anna, Simeon, and others.

We read in Luke in verse 57 and following about Elizabeth and Zechariah. It says, "When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, 'No. He is to be called John.' They said to her, 'There is no one among your relatives who has that name.' Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name the child. And he asked for a writing tablet, and everyone's astonishment he wrote, 'His name is John.' Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea, people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, 'What then is this child going to be?' For the Lord's hand was with him. His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied: 'Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he said through his holy prophets of long ago. Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham, to rescue us from the hand of our enemies and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun would come, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet to guide our feet into the path of peace.'"

And so Zechariah then was prophesying about his son, John, who would be the forerunner of of the Messiah, who would announce the coming of the Messiah. The time had come. And then in Luke 2, 21 and following, we read about the about the child Jesus. It says, "On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus. The name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. And when the time of their purification according to the law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: 'Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.' Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.' The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. And then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.' There was also a prophetess Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she is now 84. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child, all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."

Now these faithful Old Testament believers, Elizabeth, Zechariah, and Simeon and Anna and others, they welcomed the Messiah when he came. They had been awaiting his coming, and when he came, they knew it and they rejoiced. God had a people there on hand to welcome the Messiah. And these were the descendants of those who had returned from the exile. And though many in Israel were to reject him, there was a remnant in place who believed on him and welcomed him.

And so today I ask you, you who are listening right now, have you welcomed the Messiah, or have you rejected him? Jesus has come. He has died on the cross for your sins. He has risen from the dead. He has ascended into heaven, and now he sends the gospel out everywhere, inviting men, women, and young people to come to him and have eternal life. Today, God wants your heart. He wants you to return to him. You have been in rebellion. You have sinned, but God offers you pardon. He offers you forgiveness. He offers you eternal life. Would you come back to God now through Christ?

In Acts 17, beginning in verse 26, when Paul was in Athens, he writes, "From one man he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth. And he determined the time set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Therefore, since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

And so right now, God commands all people everywhere to repent. That includes you. You who are listening right now, God commands you to repent, to turn from your sin, and turn to Christ. He calls upon you to repent and turn to Christ and accept the salvation that he has provided in him.

And so I plead with you on behalf of Christ to turn from your wickedness, from your sin, and turn now to God. Accept Christ as your savior and follow him as your Lord. Come to Christ, come to Christ, come to Christ.

Our Father in heaven, we pray right now that you will touch the hearts of many people through this message, and that there will be many people who will turn now to Christ and follow him. We thank you, Lord Jesus, that you came, that you fulfilled the promise, that you came, and that you died on the cross for our sins. And we thank you that all who put their trust in you will have eternal life. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

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