Israel Celebrates Their Homecoming

Promise of a New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:7-9. The Message 

7 Oh yes, God says so:
“Shout for joy at the top of your lungs for Jacob!
    Announce the good news to the number-one nation!
Raise cheers! Sing praises. Say,
    ‘God has saved his people,
    saved the core of Israel.’
8 “Watch what comes next:
“I’ll bring my people back
    from the north country
And gather them up from the ends of the earth,
    gather those who’ve gone blind
And those who are lame and limping,
    gather pregnant women,
Even the mothers whose birth pangs have started,
    bring them all back, a huge crowd!
9 “Watch them come! They’ll come weeping for joy
    as I take their hands and lead them,
Lead them to fresh flowing brooks,
    lead them along smooth, uncluttered paths.
Yes, it’s because I’m Israel’s Father
    and Ephraim’s my firstborn son!

For Reflection

Israel has been divided, northern tribes and southern tribes.  Israel yearns to be one people as has been prophesized.  Jerimiah pleas for the return of the separated tribes of Israel. This, Jeremiah's dream of the unity of Israel is not just a geographic alliance, or a call for political, social, or economic unification. This is a dream of spiritual unity.  A dream characterized by this people's love of God and obedience to God's will.

As we observe the various disparate forms of contemporary Christianity, should we too be dreaming Jerimiah's dream for the restoration of our call to obedience?

Pray

Pray for the unity of Christian faith.  Pray for the wisdom and the courage to be an authentic Christian.

Forward to a friend