Jeremiah (1-31) 31:27 Commentary and Bible Study

God had previously warned the nation that he would not spare them, and that even if they cried to him he would not listen to them and they would not be able to escape the evil he intended to bring upon them (Jeremiah 11:11; 14:12). But now it is very different. Now he ‘will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man.’ They have been diminished in number, but he will build them up again. So God’s actions towards Israel will be completely reversed. ‘As I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD’, and ‘If God be for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans 8:31). This will be fulfilled in literal terms at the return from captivity, but far more will it be fulfilled in terms of salvation. God promises not to forget his people, not to overlook their needs and their afflictions. In the gospel age this is not a promise that there will be no hardships in this world, but it is a promise that God gives attention to his people with a Father’s love. He knows what we are experiencing, and every one of us is precious to him. We must not think that our case is ever forgotten because though we sometimes cannot see how, our Father in heaven is watching over us to build us up in the faith, and to plant new believers in the Christ’s church.‘In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. ³⁰ But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.’ They will not say, ‘the fathers have caused our problems, so that we are having to suffer the consequences.’ They will not say this because that situation will be removed, and the new generation will be being blessed for their own work, and for their own labour.