Jeremiah 31 “A New Covenant Is Coming”

Jeremiah 31 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:                                                            

• Run To The Father – Cody Carnes
• Here Again – Elevation Worship
• Cornerstone – Hillsong Worship

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• God’s Promise for Abraham | Stories of the Bible – Lesson for Kids
• I’m Trusting You | Roar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• ELEMENTARY WORSHIP | Masterpiece – Song for Kids
• This is Amazing Grace [Actions Video] // Phil Wickham // Trent Kids Dance – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

The Lord continues to give Jeremiah prophecies about the restoration of Israel and Judah. This prophecy, too, is part of what the Lord commanded Jeremiah to write down (30:2).

First, the Lord speaks of the restoration of the northern kingdom of Israel (vv. 1–22). “Ephraim” refers to one of the ten tribes that made up the northern kingdom and later became a name representing the entire northern kingdom. King Jeroboam, who founded the northern kingdom, was from the tribe of Ephraim. “Samaria” was the capital of the northern kingdom.

Just as the Lord once delivered Israel from Egypt, He will again restore His people who have been scattered among foreign nations. When that day comes, Israel will rejoice, enjoying peace and abundance, and the surrounding nations will be astonished at what God has done for them (vv. 1–14). Once Israel was like Rachel who wept for her lost children and refused to be comforted, but on that day, she will rejoice and be glad (vv. 15–17).

The reason for this restoration is that Israel sincerely repented of their sins (vv. 18–19). Although the Lord judged them for their wrongdoing, His love for them never changed. Therefore, He will restore them so that Israel can once again embrace the Lord as a bride welcomes her bridegroom (vv. 20–22).

From verse 23 onward, the prophecy turns to the restoration of the southern kingdom of Judah. The Lord declares that when the appointed time comes, the exiles will return to their homeland, and the seventy years of captivity will seem like a dream. The Lord will restore everything Judah lost. No longer will children be punished for the sins of their ancestors (vv. 23–30).

To both the northern and southern kingdoms, the Lord promises a “new covenant” (v. 31). Through the prophet Isaiah, God had already promised an “everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 55:3; 61:8), and now He reaffirms it. The Lord once gave Moses the covenant by inscribing the Law on stone tablets. But this time, He will write His Law upon the tablets of their hearts. Then the promise—“You will be My people, and I will be your God”—will be fulfilled, and the knowledge of the Lord will fill every heart. In that day, God will forgive all their sins and remember them no more (vv. 31–34).

After giving this promise of the new covenant, the Lord assures His people that even if heaven and earth were to disappear, His promise would still remain unshaken (vv. 35–37). When that time comes, all the cities of Israel and Judah will be rebuilt and will never again be torn down (vv. 38–40).

Meditation:

In the prophetic books, the expressions “on that day” or “when that time comes” appear often. These phrases point to the day or time that God has appointed. Sometimes Scripture specifies when that time will be, but more often it does not. The future unfolds as God works within His relationship with humanity. Therefore, that day or that time may come soon or may be far off—something that can only be confirmed after the prophecy has been fulfilled.

Among the prophecies about “that day” or “that time,” some were never realized within the historical timeline of Israel and Judah. People once thought these prophecies referred to events in Israel’s or Judah’s future, but they were not fulfilled in that historical setting. Some of these so-called “unfulfilled prophecies” came to pass when the time was fully ripe—through the Messiah, Christ Himself. The prophecy of the new covenant is one such example. The restoration of the northern kingdom of Israel never took place, and though the southern kingdom of Judah was restored after seventy years of exile, the restoration described in verses 38–40 of Jeremiah 31 did not occur in that era. This prophecy pointed forward to what would be accomplished through the coming of the Messiah.

When Jesus shared His final meal with His disciples, He passed the cup to them and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). He meant that through His death, God would establish a new covenant. Through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit would write God’s law upon the hearts of those who receive Him as Lord and would enable them to live according to it. Only after Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead three days later did the disciples fully realize that the prophecy of the new covenant given through Jeremiah had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

This is also why the later Church called the thirty-nine books handed down from the Jewish Scriptures the Old Testament, and the twenty-seven books written after Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection the New Testament. The Jewish people live under the old covenant given through Moses, but Christians live under the new and everlasting covenant established through Jesus Christ. To all who believe and trust in the blood of Christ, God declares: “You will be My people, and I will be your God.” Because this new covenant is eternal, those who live within it will remain forever in the grace of God.

Prayer:

O God, whom we could never approach without risking our very lives—
thank You for establishing a new covenant through Your Son,
and for inviting us, under that covenant, to draw near and call You “Abba, Father.”
Today, we remain in that grace.
Let the knowledge of the Lord flow through us to all the world.
Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God’s promise through Jesus changes our hearts so that we can truly know, love, and follow Him.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • What does it mean when we say God writes His love on our hearts?
  • How do you know that God loves you and will never forget you?
  • When do you feel close to God—maybe when you pray, sing, or help someone?
    
• Youth:
  • The Bible says God will “write His law on our hearts.” What do you think that means for your daily life, especially at school or with friends?
  • Why do you think Jesus called His sacrifice “the new covenant in my blood”? What makes it different from the old one?
  • How can knowing God’s promise never fails help you when life feels uncertain or disappointing?