Jeremiah 31:23

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. AS YET THEY SHALL USE THIS SPEECH IN ... JUDAH ... THE LORD BLESS THEE, O HABITATION OF JUSTICE. Jerusalem again shall be the metropolis of the whole nation, the seat of "justice" (Psalms 122:5; ), and of sacred worship ("holiness"), on mount Moriah (, "Jerusalem shall be called, A city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, The holy mountain")....

He confirms in other words what he has said before; nor is the repetition, as we have said elsewhere, superfluous; for it was difficult to convince the Jews that what they had already regarded as impossible could be effected; for by their perverseness they had closed, as it were, the door against the word of God. As then despair had thus laid hold on them, and fast bound their minds, it was necessary to dwell at large on the subject, so that they might at length embrace the promise of deliverance. This is the reason why the Prophet employed many words on the same subject. Now he makes this preface, that he had his message from God; and he speaks in his name, so that the incredible thing might be believed both by the Israelites and the Jews. _They shall yet, _he says, _say in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I shall restore their captivity, _etc. By these words the Prophet brings...

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?...

Verse Jeremiah 31:23. _THE LORD BLESS THEE, O HABITATION OF JUSTICE_] After their return they shall be remarkably prosperous. _Piety_ and _industry_ shall go hand in hand; they shall have their _husbandmen_, their _shepherds_, and _neatherds_, Jeremiah 31:24. And Jerusalem shall become a _righteous city_, and the _temple_ shall be a _place of holiness_; so the weary there shall have _rest_, and the _sorrowful_ shall be abundantly _comforted_, Jeremiah 31:24....

AS YET - Or, Again, once move. The prophet now turns to Judah. By the mountain of holiness is meant not the temple only, but all Jerusalem, of which the temple was the most sacred spot, and that by which all the rest was made holy....

EXPOSITION JEREMIAH 31:1 The promise of Jeremiah 30:22 is expressly declared to apply to both sections of the nation. Jehovah thus solemnly declares his purpose of mercy, and dwells with special Madness on the happy future of Ephraim. JEREMIAH 31:2 THE PEOPLE which were LEFT OF THE SWORD, etc.; literally, _the people of those left of the sword. _The expression clearly implies that the Jews at the time spoken of had escaped, or were about to escape, in some great battle or some other kind of slaughter. Hence the finding grace in the wilderness cannot refer to the sequel of the passage through the Red Sea, an

THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL,.... The Governor of the whole world, the Lord of armies above and below; and yet has a peculiar regard to Israel, his spiritual Israel, whose covenant God and Father he is; and is to be believed in what he after says, the fulfilment of which may be depended on: AS YET THEY SHALL USE THIS SPEECH IN THE LAND OF JUDAH, AND IN THE CITIES THEREOF, WHEN I SHALL BRING AGAIN THEIR CAPTIVITY; not the Babylonish captivity, but their present one; for, upon their return from Babylon, though there was a reformation among them, by means of Ezra, and Nehemiah, and others, yet not so great an one as is here suggested; when, by way of salutation and prayer, the following words will be said by all that know them, and wish well to them, as had been heretofore: THE LORD BLESS THEE, O HABITATION OF JUSTICE, [AND] MOUNTAIN OF HOLINESS; for now Jerusalem will...

Jeremiah 31:1. _At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee._ Was there ever a sweeter word from heaven than this, everlasting love proved by the drawings of divine grace? I know that your hearts will be full of music if ever the Spirit of God has spoken home to your soul such a message as this. Let us read it again. «The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee....

CHAPTER 31 _ 1. The home-going of the nation (Jeremiah 31:1) _ 2. The joy of salvation (Jeremiah 31:10) 3. The preceding tribulation, sorrow and repentance (Jeremiah 31:15) 4. Assurance (Jeremiah 31:22) 5. The new covenant (Jeremiah 31:27) 6. The everlasting nation (Jeremiah 31:35) Jeremiah 31

At the restoration of Judah there shall be joyous acclamation of the city and the Temple (Zechariah 8:3); agricultural and pastoral life shall be resumed in peace; the thirsty and the hungry (_cf._ Jeremiah 31:14) shall be satisfied. Jeremiah 31:26 appears to be a gloss, which hints that these bright dreams are very different from the waking reality....