The Promise of Restoration

As God’s judgment on His people, Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonians and will soon fall and the people go into exile. In the midst of it, God calls them to pray to Him and He promises an answer (verse 3). He gives a great promise of the removal of guilt and defilement and back to a relationship of favor and fellowship with Himself (verse 8). The people should be in awe and amazement (verse 9), not at the current destruction, but at the coming salvation. From the horrible sounds around them, through the silence of the exile to come, the city will be filled with sounds of joy and gladness (verse 11).

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading from Jeremiah 33:1-11

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 REFLECTION

Restored and Hope-filled

by Nancy Gleeson

Sometimes I think of God as the One who restores, and I think of Jesus as the One who brings new life. Here is Jeremiah calling out to God who promises restoration while also pointing to Jesus, the One who brings new life. For it has always been new life that is needed when children of God die to sin. And, God grants the peace needed to surrender to the great unknown which looks something like this:  What we cannot know, what we need not know, what we know that God knows is enough to trust in Him.

No matter what circumstances you find yourself in, God has a Word of hope for you. For God promises to turn sorrow into joy!  He will make whatever is undone in justice, to be redone in mercy!  He puts everything back in its place with peace and mercy for all His people. There are prophecies of prosperity, comfort, and hope for the kingdoms of Israel and for us (and with the necessary judgment on the wicked!).

We have a God who listens, a God who hears our cries, and a God who is faithful. Because He is true to His word, beyond tribulation there is hope in a crucified man. 

In response, we will give joy, praise, and honor! In response we will pray:

"Heavenly Father, thank You that You are a good and faithful God, whose word stands fast forever and ever. "

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - MONDAY 

HUMILITY: “Soften our hearts to one another. Give us eyes to see our common humanity, each of us and all of us created in your image, and give us the gift of empathy, to care deeply about one another.”