THE frequent use of God’s name in Jeremiah’s prophecy has been remarked upon; in most instances it is “the LORD” (or Jehovah), His name of covenant relationship with Israel (Ex. 3:1515And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. (Exodus 3:15)) but “Jehovah of hosts”—with all power at His command to carry out His will in connection with His people,—and “Jehovah the God of Israel”—presenting Himself as the true object of Israel’s worship in contrast with the false gods of the nations—appear a number of times in this book. In our last chapter, there is “Jehovah the God of all flesh’’, and in that next preceding, He declares that He will be the “God of all the families of Israel”; the first proclaims Him the only true God of all mankind, overriding all national and racial boundaries while the second is a forward look into Israel’s glorious future when restored to His favor.
Chapter 33 brings before us another significant name or title of God (verse 2). “Jehovah the doer of it; Jehovah that formeth it to establish it; Jehovah is His name” (N. Tr.); this gave to Jeremiah the confidence that God, even in the very distressing circumstances of that hour, was overruling all things for the future blessing of Israel. The setting aside of Israel and Judah was a necessity that would not and could not interfere with the high purposes of God; rather was it, in the light of eternity, working to that end, that the true state of the people might be known, and judged and confessed before Him.
Jeremiah was “yet shut up in prison”, and that was for God’s glory and His servant’s blessing; it was not the time for God to display His power; rather did it seem as though He were defeated when the people who bore His name were, after 863 years in the land He gave them, carried away as captives of the young kingdom of Babylonia. But God is never defeated; not all the power of Satan or the wicked plans of men have kept Him from His purposes, nor ever shall.
Perhaps the reader has passed, or is even now passing, through circumstances as trying as Jeremiah’s, and no relief has seemed to come in answer to much beseeching prayer. He did not realize, nor are we ourselves apt to take it in, that by means of these very circumstances, God draws His children nearer to Himself, deepening His work in the soul for our eternal blessing, and, it may be also, for greater usefulness here below. In such ways, what is contrary to the purposes of God is made to work for the blessing of His own and thus redounds to His glory. We may with profit read the cheering words of Rom. 8:16-3016The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:16‑30) and another portion written for the suffering saints in 1 Pet. 5:1010But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10).
The end of the war between the Jews and the Chaldeans was to be, in its effect, God’s judgment upon the wicked (verse 5), but it was only Jeremiah that was altogether in the secret of this, because he walked with God.
Verses 10 and 12 describe the appearance of Judah’s land and Jerusalem when the Chaldean or Babylonian army should have completed its work. The Babylonians were, for the most part, descendants of the ancient. Chaldeans, and are often called Chaldeans, though Chaldea, as a nation, had long ceased to exist. The land of Israel has never yielded its best since God’s earthly people fell into sin, and since their crowning sill of putting their Messiah to death, it has fallen into a low state indeed, from which the schemes of Jews and Gentiles since the Great War have not raised it; nor can they be realized until the new Israel occupies its soil.
This will not be without the return of the-Messiah; the Branch of righteousness (verse 15) holds the key to the blessing of Israel and of the whole world. It is impossible to understand the Scriptures without seeing Christ’s place in the Word of God. He, David’s Son and David’s Lord, the God-Man, shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land (or, upon the earth). In those days shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell in safety (verse 16). Verse 17 passes by the centuries from God’s giving up Judah as “Lo-ammi” (Hosea 1) until He takes them up again in sovereign mercy (See Rom. 9:25, 2625As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. (Romans 9:25‑26)).
The chapter closes with a double assurance that the promise of God shall not fail. Israel is in view here, of course, but it is a precious reflection for every believer in the Lord Jesus that God’s Word concerning those who trust in Him can not fail. He has given His Word, and faith believes it, awaits with certainty its fulfilment, though present circumstances be altogether contrary.
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