Jeremiah (1-31) 31:10 Commentary and Bible Study

The use of Old Testament images to describe New Testament spiritual realities turns the literal language of the nation of Israel into poetry. Israel is to be gathered from the nations and from the isles afar of, a reference to the parts of the world populated by the descendants of Japheth (Genesis 11:5). This is much further than Israel was scattered during the time of the captivity or even of the displacement of the ten northern tribes. It is not describing a literal gathering of Israelites from different parts of the world, but rather the preaching of the gospel in all parts of the world to both Jews and Gentiles. ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock’, for as Paul says, ‘he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God’ (Romans 2:28-29). The gathering of the Gentiles is expressed in terms of the regathering of scattered Israelites, even though there has been no literal scattering of Gentiles brought into the church. ‘Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.’ By blessings of wheat and wine and oil we are to understand what is the equivalent of these blessing in a different age. These were the blessings which God favoured Israel with when they were living in their own land in fulfilment of the promises made to Moses: ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’ (Exodus 3:8). But these are not the blessings enjoyed by Christians, or if they are, they are only incidental. The blessings which New Testament believers enjoy are summed up by Paul: ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ’ (Ephesians 1:3).The consolations of God will be so great that they will cause those who receive them to forget all the sorrows of the past. They will recognise that the way God has led them was the right way, and by the difficulties of this way they have suffered no real loss. They are more than conquerors through him that loved them. ‘Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. ¹⁴ And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.’