Jeremiah 30:15, 17 - Punishment and Healing.
Jer.30:15, 17: Punishment and Healing.
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Jeremiah 30:15, 17 (KJV) Why criest thou for thine affliction?
thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because
thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. For I
will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds,
saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is
Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Jeremiah 30:15, 17 (NLT) Why do you protest your
punishment--this wound that has no cure? I have had to punish you because your
sins are many and your guilt is great. I will give you back your
health and heal your wounds, says the LORD. "Now you are called an
outcast--'Jerusalem for whom nobody cares.'
Jeremiah 30:1, 17 (AMP) Why do you cry out because of your hurt
[the natural result of your sins]? Your pain is deadly (incurable).
Because of the greatness of your perversity and guilt, because your sins
are glaring and innumerable, I have done these things to you. For I
will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the
Lord, because they have called you an outcast, saying, This is Zion,
whom no one seeks after and for whom no one cares!
Jeremiah 30:15 (CWR) Why are you crying so much over your
wounds? Is your pain without a cure? I haven't turned against you. I
have punished you because of your great wickedness and your many
sins. But I will heal your wounds and restore your health. I will
care for you and plead your cause. They have called you an outcast,
but you are still my son.
Jeremiah 30:15 (TLB) Why do you protest your punishment? Your
sin is so scandalous that your sorrow should never end! It is
because your guilt is great that I have had to punish you so much. I
will give you back your health again and heal your wounds. Now you
are called "The Outcast" and "Jerusalem, the Place Nobody Wants."
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Though most of Jeremiah is bad news, chapters 30 to 33 are good
news. These chapters have been called the "Book of Consolation" or the
"Little Book of Comfort" because of their message of hope. [Youth SB]
30:1-33:26 This section is called the Book of Consolation,
because of its positive messages of hope concerning the future.
[Passages Of Life SB]
30:1-32:44 In this section Jeremiah looks beyond the imminent
judgment to (1) the return of some from Babylonian captivity, and (2) the
restoration of all in the future Day of the Lord when the new covenant will
be experienced by all Israel. [Ryrie SB]
Overview of Chapter 30
A collection of sermons focused on the restoration (30:1-11) and
healing (vv. 12-24) of the Old Testament faith community. God's
everlasting love guaranteed future blessedness despite present mourning
(31:1-30). But to accomplish His purposes God had to make a New Covenant
with His people (vv. 31-40). Jeremiah bought a field occupied by the
enemy to demonstrate his personal confidence in God's promises of
restoration (32:1-44), which he repeated despite being imprisoned (33:1-26).
[The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
30:1-24 Restoration is promised for both Israel and Judah, thus
reuniting the long-divided northern and southern kingdoms (since 922, when
Rehoboam and Jeroboam divided the land and the people; 1 Kings 12-14).
This unprecedented event of reunion (none like it; 30:7) will bring
God's people back from exile, but will also make an end of all
nations. Meanwhile the experience of the people of God will be painful,
but their health and fortunes will be restored. Jerusalem will be
rebuilt, and one of their own will rule as prince (30:21). The result
will be the ultimate reunion of God and his people, but first will
come a time of suffering. [Cambridge Annotated SB]
30:17-22 God's future blessings on Israel will include health
(i.e., physical and spiritual healing, v. 17), restoration of the
people and Jerusalem (v. 18), reestablishment of the Davidic line in
the person of King Messiah (v. 21), and fellowship with God (v. 22).
[Ryrie SB]
SECTION HEADINGS
Deliverance from Captivity Promised
Promises of Deliverance
Promises of Hope
Restoration of Israel (30:1-31:40)
Israel's Glorious Future
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Ezra 9:6-7 (KJV) And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to
lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased
over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. [7]
Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto
this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests,
been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword,
to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is
this day.
Ezra 9:13 (KJV) And after all that is come upon us for our evil
deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast
punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such
deliverance as this;
Isaiah 59:1,2 (KJV) Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened,
that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: [2]
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and
your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Jeremiah 2:19 (KJV) Thine own wickedness shall correct thee,
and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that
it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord
thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of
hosts.
Jeremiah 5:25 (KJV) Your iniquities have turned away these
things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
Jeremiah 9:6 (KJV) Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit;
through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord.
Lament. 5:16-17 (KJV) The crown is fallen from our head: woe
unto us, that we have sinned! [17] For this our heart is faint; for
these things our eyes are dim.
Micah 7:9 (KJV) I will bear the indignation of the Lord,
because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute
judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold
his righteousness.
Malachi 4:2 (KJV) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun
of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go
forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Exodus 15:26 (KJV) And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to
the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in
his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his
statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have
brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
Psalm 23:3 (KJV) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psalm 79:9 (KJV) Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory
of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy
name's sake.
Psalm 103:3 (KJV) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who
healeth all thy diseases;
Psalm 107:20 (KJV) He sent his word, and healed them, and
delivered them from their destructions.
Isaiah 30:26 (KJV) Moreover the light of the moon shall be as
the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,
as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the
breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
Jeremiah 3:22 (KJV) Return, ye backsliding children, and I will
heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the
Lord our God.
Jeremiah 33:6 (KJV) Behold, I will bring it health and cure,
and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of
peace and truth.
Ezekiel 34:16 (KJV) I will seek that which was lost, and bring
again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was
broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the
fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
Hosea 6:1 (KJV) Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he
hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us
up.
Malachi 4:2 (KJV) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun
of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go
forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV) Who his own self bare our sins in his own
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
The medical language here conveys the idea that sin is terminal.
Sinful people cannot be cured by being good or being religious. Beware
of putting your confidence in useless cures while your sin spreads
and causes you pain. God alone can cure the disease of sin, but you
must be willing to let him do it. [Life Application SB]
Healing was promised in response to the people's repentance
(3:22; 33:6). [Nelson SB]
Judah protested its punishment, even though the sin that caused
the pain was scandalous. But punishment is an opportunity for growth
because it makes us aware of sin's consequences. The people should have
asked how they could profit from their mistakes. Remember this the
next time you are corrected. [Life Application SB]
Sin is an incurable sickness leading to death. God brings just
judgment on sin, not letting it go unpunished. He also becomes the Great
Physician, healing our incurable wounds. God's compassion means no sinner
is beyond hope, but we must be willing to learn from discipline.
[Disciple SB]
The people of Judah hungered for God's judgment to end, just as
every child eagerly awaits the end of discipline. Before his wrath was
fully upon them, God told his people that they would be renewed and
restored. Such a promise unveils the unfailing love God has for us. His
punishment is real, but it is motivated by a desire for healing and true
restoration. Just like the people of Judah, we often resist God's will for us
until we discover that doing things our own way leads to destruction.
We can be sure that if we repent and follow God's will for our
life, he will use our punishment as a significant step in our
recovery. [Life Recovery SB]
Why does God discipline his people? The idea of discipline with
justice can be found throughout Scripture. Discipline of the people of
God brings about their restoration, character and godliness.
Discipline for unbelievers results in destruction, banishment and
suffering. For the people of God, mercy ultimately triumphs over judgment,
because God's justice has been satisfied through the sacrificial
atonement of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [Quest SB re vs. 11]
"I will restore you to health and heal your wounds" Jer.
30:12-24. Here the "wound" God speaks of is spiritual. His people are
"beyond healing" because their "guilt is so great, and your sins so
many." Before God can restore the material prosperity of His people, He
must restore their spiritual health. This is impossible for the
people of Judah: their wound is "incurable" and "beyond healing." But
God will devise a way, and then He will restore them to relationship
with Him (v. 22) and to national prosperity. The order here is
important. God is eager to bless us. But first we must be healed within,
and in right relationship with Him. As Jesus put it, our first
concern is to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then "all
these things will be given to you as well" (Matt. 6:33). [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]
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