The Old Testament is full of prophesies of the coming
Messiah. The Book of Hebrews points back to many of them in addressing the Jews
about who is Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Lord. Moreover, I recently read
Jeremiah 31 which speaks of the Old and New covenant with God’s people. This
book written some 600 years before Christ’s incarnation speaks wonderfully of a
God who draws us with loving-kindness, “I will build you up again and you will be
rebuilt” (Jeremiah 31:3,4). I love the terminology that takes us back
to Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the wall that was demolished as the Israelites were
in captivity in Babylon. Judgment for disobedience is one of the themes. But he
wants to tell them that they will again rejoice and dance. Rebuilding is a theme.
Restoration is a
theme (v.18) as God has disciplined and now he will restore them in returning to their land. Then they will repent after they have strayed (v.19). God tells them to set up Road
Signs to return. As the prophet Isaiah 30:21 tells the Israelites “Whether
you turn to the left or the right you will hear a voice behind you saying, this
is the way walk in it.” God will lead them, and He will lead us with
the guideposts of His word. As the
people follow the road to righteousness (v.23), the sacred mountain, GOD says, “I
will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (v.25).
Then Jeremiah tells them “The time is coming, declares the
Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel” (v.31).
And of the new covenant, “The days are coming, declares the Lord,
“when this city will be rebuilt for me…” (v.38). But most importantly God says in verse 34, “For
I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” This
wonderful verse speaks of the coming of the Messiah, the Christ who by His
life, death and resurrection has
forgiven our sins and remembers them no
more.
It is full circle from sin to salvation. Sins are atoned for
once for all forever and thrown as for as the east is from the west as Psalm
103 reminds us. Can you see the beauty
of this prophesy, promise and power. The Old is replaced by the new. Can you
see the wonderful outline circumscribed in words that start with R.
Rebuild, Restoration,
Repent, Road Signs of Righteousness, Refresh, Rebuilt, Remember Sins NO More, because
of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This is not subtle people. This is the story of humanity and
restoration through forgiveness of sins as we trust in the One who does it all-
Jesus Christ.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.