Examining The Scripture CIX: Jeremiah's New Covenant

Jeremiah's "new covenant" is introduced in chapter 31 and we see distinct shadows of Jesus Christ and the New Testament mentioned in this chapter. I will note them as I cross their paths in the post.

(v. 1) First of all I will state that this verse hints to a unified future Israel “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people." The question is when.

(v. 2-9) Restoration to the North: Jeremiah’s new covenant is that God assures the Northern Kingdom (hills of Samaria) that He would restore those that had “survived the sword” (Assyrian) and would return them to Israel (Samaria). God’s motivation for doing this is clearly love and the side effect of love, mercy and grace. In his loving-kindness God again was willing to overlook the Israelites transgressions and He tells them:

(a) That they will again build up Israel
(b) They would take up their tambourines and dance with the joyful
(c) They would plant vineyards in the hills of Samaria
(d) There will be renewed commitment to God, “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD
(e) The restoration would be accompanied with singing
(f) The remnant of Israel would come from the “ends of the earth”
(g) Among these will be the blind and lame (shadows of Christ), pregnant woman and woman in labor (generation already beginning to prosper)
(h) Weeping with joy as they return; praying and focused on the Lord as they enter a land similar to the initial entry into the Promised Land in Joshua’s time. As a matter of fact this re-entry is reminiscent of Joshua. The reference to Ephraim in verse 9 is probably intentional and dualistic in intent as it is alludes Samaria/Northern Israel and also to Ephraim the person...Joshua is a descendant of Ephraim/Joseph.

(v. 10-14) God’s restoration will also be material. Mourning will turn to gladness for both the young and old and they will shout with joy from the heights of Zion, and rejoice in “the bounty of the Lord-grain, new wine, oil, young of flocks and herds” and Zion would be like “a well-watered garden”.

(v. 15-20) There will be a sharp contrast between the Israelites current misery and the promised future hope. They would be rewarded with renewal based mostly on God’s lovingkindness but what we see in verse 19 is a hint of a repentance after straying. The Lord has compassion on Ephraim/Northern Kingdom.

(v. 21-26) We then see a similar promise for restoration and a return from captivity for Judah/Southern Kingdom. As the Israelites start out for Babylon they are exhorted to “blaze their trail” since they will be returning the same way.

(v. 27-37) The New Covenant (shadows Luke 22:20): It is at this point Jeremiah 31 that things begin to get quite “heavy” and we start to see a deliberate shift. The chapter begins to allude to “something more”. It had been hinting around towards it for a while but here the idea of a full-blown covenant shifts into gear. Israel AND Judah are mentioned together in restoration (v. 31). Through Jeremiah the Lord refers to the coming days when God will plant the offspring of men and animals in Israel and Judah. God promises a new covenant that “would not be like the covenant God had made with Israel’s forefathers”. This New Covenant will put the Law in their minds and on their hearts (Hebrews, Chapter 8 & 10) not just stones (2 Corinthians 3:3). We are seeing references to the Holy Spirit being indwelt in the believer after Pentecost.

(a) Additionally, we see a sense of permanence this time in the wordage as opposed to the non-permanence of Israel up to this point with the constant pattern of sin and repentance, sin and repentance in the Old Testament. I am guessing we are seeing references to the Millennium when Israel is restored to her God. Because of the Jews rejection of Christ, the Gentiles are currently benefiting from this covenant, since this covenant as mentioned in Jeremiah begins with Christ’s death and the arrival of the Helper.

(v. 38-40) The closure of this chapter speaks of the establishment of a new city, Jerusalem would be rebuilt

(a) This city would be holy to the Lord

The corresponding match with Jeremiah 31 in the New Testament is Hebrews 8 and 10. I have also included lesser matches but matches none the less.

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." Hebrews 8:10-12 (mirrors Jeremiah 31:31-34)

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Hebrew 10:16-17 (mirrors Jeremiah 31:33-34)

Dyer, Charles., John Walvoord. "Jeremiah." Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Bible Knowledge). Acambaro: Victor, 1985. 1169-1172. Print.

Wiersbe, Warren. "The God Who Makes Things New." Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament: The Prophets (Bible Knowledge). Acambaro: Victor, 2003. 122-124. Print.