Jeremías 31

1 «En aquel tiempo —afirma el SEÑOR— seré el Dios de todas las familias de Israel, y ellos serán mi pueblo».

2 Así dice el SEÑOR:«El pueblo que escapó de la espadaha hallado gracia en el desierto;Israel va en busca de su reposo».

3 Hace mucho tiempo^[a] se me apareció el SEÑOR y me dijo:«Con amor eterno te he amado;por eso te sigo con fidelidad,

4 oh virginal Israel.Te edificaré de nuevo;¡sí, serás reedificada!De nuevo tomarás panderetasy saldrás a bailar con alegría.

5 Volverás a plantar viñedosen las colinas de Samaria,y quienes los plantengozarán de sus frutos

6 Vendrá un día en que los centinelasgritarán por las colinas de Efraín:“¡Vengan, subamos a Sión,al monte del SEÑOR, nuestro Dios!”»

7 Así dice el SEÑOR:«Canten jubilosos en honor de Jacob;griten de alegría por la mejor de las naciones.Hagan oír sus alabanzas y clamen:“¡Salva, SEÑOR, a tu pueblo;salva al remanente de Israel!”

8 Yo los traeré del país del norte;los reuniré de los confines de la tierra.¡Volverá una gran multitud!Entre ellos vendrán ciegos y cojos,embarazadas y parturientas.

9 Entre llantos vendrán,y entre consuelos los conduciré.Los guiaré a corrientes de aguapor un camino llanoen el que no tropezarán.Yo soy el padre de Israel;mi primogénito es Efraín.

10 »Naciones, escuchen la palabra del SEÑOR,y anuncien en las costas más lejanas:“El que dispersó a Israel, lo reunirá;lo cuidará como un pastor a su rebaño”.

11 Porque el SEÑOR rescató a Jacob;lo redimió de una mano más poderosa.

12 Vendrán y cantarán jubilosos en las alturas de Sión;disfrutarán de las bondades del SEÑOR:el trigo, el vino nuevo y el aceite,las crías de las ovejas y las vacas.Serán como un jardín bien regado,y no volverán a desmayar.

13 Entonces las jóvenes danzarán con alegría,y los jóvenes junto con los ancianos.Convertiré su duelo en gozo, y los consolaré;transformaré su dolor en alegría.

14 Colmaré de abundancia a los sacerdotes,y saciaré con mis bienes a mi pueblo»,afirma el SEÑOR.

15 Así dice el SEÑOR:«Se oye un grito en Ramá,lamentos y amargo llanto.Es Raquel, que llora por sus hijosy no quiere ser consolada;¡sus hijos ya no existen!»

16 Así dice el SEÑOR:«Reprime tu llanto,las lágrimas de tus ojos,pues tus obras tendrán su recompensa:tus hijos volverán del país enemigo—afirma el SEÑOR—.

17 Se vislumbra esperanza en tu futuro:tus hijos volverán a su patria—afirma el SEÑOR—.

18 »Por cierto, he escuchado el lamento de Efraín:“Me has escarmentado como a un ternero sin domar,y he aceptado tu corrección.Hazme volver, y seré restaurado;porque tú, mi Dios, eres el SEÑOR.

19 Yo me aparté, pero me arrepentí;al comprenderlo me di golpes de pecho.^[b]Me siento avergonzado y humilladoporque cargo con el oprobio de mi juventud”.

20 »¿Acaso no es Efraín mi hijo amado?¿Acaso no es mi niño preferido?Cada vez que lo reprendo,vuelvo a acordarme de él.Por él mi corazón se conmueve;por él siento mucha compasión—afirma el SEÑOR—.

21 »Ponte señales en el camino,coloca marcas por donde pasaste,fíjate bien en el sendero.¡Vuelve, virginal Israel;vuelve a tus ciudades!

22 ¿Hasta cuándo andarás errante,hija infiel?El SEÑOR creará algo nuevo en la tierra,la mujer regresará a su esposo».^[c]

23 Así dice el SEÑORTodopoderoso, el Dios de Israel: «Cuando yo cambie su suerte, en la tierra de Judá y en sus ciudades volverá a decirse:»“Monte santo, morada de justicia:¡que el SEÑOR te bendiga!”

24 Allí habitarán juntos Judá y todas sus ciudades, los agricultores y los pastores de rebaños.

25 Daré de beber a los sedientos y saciaré a los que estén agotados».

26 En ese momento me desperté, y abrí los ojos. Había tenido un sueño agradable.

27 «Vienen días —afirma el SEÑOR— en que con la simiente de hombres y de animales sembraré el pueblo de Israel y la tribu de Judá.

28 Y así como he estado vigilándolos para arrancar y derribar, para destruir y demoler, y para traer calamidad, así también habré de vigilarlos para construir y plantar —afirma el SEÑOR—.

29 En aquellos días no volverá a decirse:»“Los padres comieron uvas agrias,y a los hijos se les destemplaron los dientes”.

30 Al contrario, al que coma uvas agrias se le destemplarán los dientes, es decir, que cada uno morirá por su propia iniquidad.

31 »Vienen días —afirma el SEÑOR— en que haré un nuevo pacto con el pueblo de Israel y con la tribu de Judá.

32 No será un pacto como el que hice con sus antepasados el día en que los tomé de la mano y los saqué de Egipto, ya que ellos lo quebrantaron a pesar de que yo era su esposo —afirma el SEÑOR—.

33 »Este es el pacto que después de aquel tiempo haré con el pueblo de Israel —afirma el SEÑOR—: Pondré mi ley en su mente, y la escribiré en su corazón. Yo seré su Dios, y ellos serán mi pueblo.

34 Ya no tendrá nadie que enseñar a su prójimo, ni dirá nadie a su hermano: “¡Conoce al SEÑOR!”, porque todos, desde el más pequeño hasta el más grande, me conocerán —afirma el SEÑOR—. Yo les perdonaré su iniquidad, y nunca más me acordaré de sus pecados».

35 Así dice el SEÑOR,cuyo nombre es el SEÑOR Todopoderoso,quien estableció el sol para alumbrar el día,y la luna y las estrellas para alumbrar la noche,y agita el mar para que rujan sus olas:

36 «Si alguna vez fallaran estas leyes—afirma el SEÑOR—,entonces la descendencia de Israelya nunca más sería mi nación especial».

37 Así dice el SEÑOR:«Si se pudieran medir los cielos en lo alto,y en lo bajo explorar los cimientos de la tierra,entonces yo rechazaría a la descendencia de Israelpor todo lo que ha hecho—afirma el SEÑOR—.

38 »Vienen días —afirma el SEÑOR—, en que la ciudad del SEÑOR será reconstruida, desde la torre de Jananel hasta la puerta de la Esquina.

39 El cordel para medir se extenderá en línea recta, desde allí hasta la colina de Gareb, y luego girará hacia Goa.

40 Y todo el valle donde se arrojan los cadáveres y las cenizas, y todos los campos, hasta el arroyo de Cedrón y hasta la puerta de los Caballos, en la esquina oriental, estarán consagrados al SEÑOR. ¡Nunca más la ciudad será arrancada ni derribada!»

Jeremías 31 Commentary

Chapter 31

The restoration of Israel. (1-9) Promises of guidance and happiness; Rachel lamenting. (10-17) Ephraim laments his errors. (18-20) The promised Saviour. (21-26) God's care over the church. (27-34) Peace and prosperity in gospel time. (35-40)

Verses 1-9 God assures his people that he will again take them into covenant relation to himself. When brought very low, and difficulties appear, it is good to remember that it has been so with the church formerly. But it is hard under present frowns to take comfort from former smiles; yet it is the happiness of those who, through grace, are interested in the love of God, that it is an everlasting love, from everlasting in the counsels, to everlasting in the continuance. Those whom God loves with this love, he will draw to himself, by the influences of his Spirit upon their souls. When praising God for what he has done, we must call upon him for the favours his church needs and expects. When the Lord calls, we must not plead that we cannot come; for he that calls us, will help us, will strengthen us. The goodness of God shall lead them to repentance. And they shall weep for sin with more bitterness, and more tenderness, when delivered out of their captivity, than when groaning under it. If we take God for our Father, and join the church of the first-born, we shall want nothing that is good for us. These predictions doubtless refer also to a future gathering of the Israelites from all quarters of the globe. And they figuratively describe the conversion of sinners to Christ, and the plain and safe way in which they are led.

Verses 10-17 He that scattered Israel, knows where to find them. It is comfortable to observe the goodness of the Lord in the gifts of providence. But our souls are never valuable as gardens, unless watered with the dews of God's Spirit and grace. A precious promise follows, which will not have full accomplishment except in the heavenly Zion. Let them be satisfied of God's loving-kindness, and they will be satisfied with it, and desire no more to make them happy. Rachel is represented as rising from her grave, and refusing to be comforted, supposing her offspring rooted out. The murder of the children at Bethlehem, by Herod, ( Matthew 2:16-18 ) , in some degree fulfilled this prediction, but could not be its full meaning. If we have hope in the end, concerning an eternal inheritance, for ourselves and those belonging to us, all temporal afflictions may be borne, and will be for our good.

Verses 18-20 Ephraim (the ten tribes) is weeping for sin. He is angry at himself for his sin, and folly, and frowardness. He finds he cannot, by his own power, keep himself close with God, much less bring himself back when he is revolted. Therefore he prays, Turn thou me, and I shall be turned. His will was bowed to the will of God. When the teaching of God's Spirit went with the corrections of his providence, then the work was done. This is our comfort in affliction, that the Lord thinks upon us. God has mercy in store, rich mercy, sure mercy, suitable mercy, for all who seek him in sincerity.

Verses 21-26 The way from the bondage of sin to the liberty of God's children, is a high-way. It is plain, it is safe; yet none are likely to walk in it, unless they set their hearts towards it. They are encouraged by the promise of a new, unheard-of, extraordinary thing; a creation, a work of Almighty power; the human nature of Christ, formed and prepared by the power of the Holy Ghost: and this is here mentioned as an encouragement to the Jews to return to their own land. And a comfortable prospect is given them of a happy settlement there. Godliness and honesty God has joined: let no man think to put them asunder, or to make the one atone for the want of the other. In the love and favour of God the weary soul shall find rest, and the sorrowful shall find joy. And what can we see with more satisfaction than the good of Jerusalem, and peace upon Israel?

Verses 27-34 The people of God shall become numerous and prosperous. In ( hebrews 8:8 hebrews 8:9 ) , this place is quoted as the sum of the covenant of grace made with believers in Jesus Christ. Not, I will give them a new law; for Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it; but the law shall be written in their hearts by the finger of the Spirit, as formerly written in the tables of stone. The Lord will, by his grace, make his people willing people in the day of his power. All shall know the Lord; all shall be welcome to the knowledge of God, and shall have the means of that knowledge. There shall be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, at the time the gospel is published. No man shall finally perish, but for his own sins; none, who is willing to accept of Christ's salvation.

Verses 35-40 As surely as the heavenly bodies will continue their settled course, according to the will of their Creator, to the end of time, and as the raging sea obeys him, so surely will the Jews be continued a separate people. Words can scarcely set forth more strongly the restoration of Israel. The rebuilding of Jerusalem, and its enlargement and establishment, shall be an earnest of the great things God will do for the gospel church. The personal happiness of every true believer, as well as the future restoration of Israel, is secured by promise, covenant, and oath. This Divine love passes knowledge; and to those who take hold upon it, every present mercy is an earnest of salvation.

Footnotes

• [a] "Hace mucho tiempo" . Alt. "Desde lejos" .
• [b] "de pecho" . Lit. "en el muslo" .
• [c] "regresará a su esposo" . Frase de difícil traducción.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 31

This chapter is connected with the former, respects the same times, and is full of prophecies and promises of spiritual blessings; of the coming of Christ; of the multiplication of his people, and the increase of their joy; of the conversion of the Gentiles; of the covenant of grace; and of the stability of the saints. It begins with the principal promise of the covenant, confirmed by past experience, of divine goodness, and with a fresh declaration of God's everlasting love, Jer 31:1-3; an instance of which would appear, in planting vines or churches in Samaria, the metropolis of Ephraim or the ten tribes, under the ministry of the apostles, the watchmen, on Mount Ephraim; whereby the Israel of God would be built, beautified, and made to rejoice, Jer 31:4-6; yea, it would be matter of joy to all that heard of it; since, notwithstanding distance and other difficulties, a great number should come to Christ, and to his church, drawn by the Father's love to them, and as owing to the relation he stands in to them, Jer 31:7-9; redemption out of the hands of Satan, and every spiritual enemy, must be published among the Gentiles; which would cause great joy, and give great satisfaction to the priests and people of the Lord, expressed by various metaphors, Jer 31:10-14; and though, upon the birth of the Redeemer, there would be an event, which might tend to damp the joy of saints on account of it, the murder of the infants at Bethlehem; yet some things are said to encourage faith, hope, and joy, and to abate sorrow and weeping, Jer 31:15-17; Ephraim's affliction, and behaviour under it, his repentance and reception, are recorded, Jer 31:18-20; backsliding Israel are called upon to return, in consideration of the birth of the Messiah, Jer 31:21,22; the happy and flourishing estate of the people of God is promised; all which were made known to the prophet by a dream in the night, Jer 31:23-26; and fresh promises are made, that the Lord would do them good, and not punish the children for their fathers' sins, but everyone for their own, Jer 31:28-30; and then an account is given of the new covenant of grace, as distinct from the old, and of the articles of it; the inscription of the law in the heart, spiritual knowledge of the Lord, and remission of sin, Jer 31:31-34; then follow assurances of the everlasting continuance of the true Israel and church of God, Jer 31:35-37; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem, and of the holiness of it, and of its abiding for ever, Jer 31:38-40.