“Hear the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’ For the Lᴏʀᴅ has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lᴏʀᴅ, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lᴏʀᴅ.”
There are two distinctives in Jeremiah Chapter 31: the number of times we have direct quotes as highlighted in yesterday’s devotional and the number of word pictures God uses for His people:
God is neither vindictive nor punitive towards those who love Him but continues to draw them back to Himself. His desire is for His people, those who follow Him, to find their satisfaction in His goodness:
Is there any better vision of your life than the one God sees you living in Him, fulfilled in His goodness? In all honesty, I’m guessing you see nothing better than the eternal relationship He desires with and for you. He desires you find your contentment in His desires—truly fulfilled? Don’t you want His desire for your life, beginning now and forevermore. Amen