Jeremiah 33 Devotional

Joy Promised to a Ruin

“the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.”Jeremiah 33:11 (BSB)

Still confined in the courtyard of the guard, Jeremiah hears God invite him to call, with a promise to answer and show him great things he could never search out alone (33:1-3). What God shows him first is a city in ruins, its houses torn down for defense and soon filled with the dead (33:4-5). Then the word turns. God will heal this city, cleanse its people from every sin, and forgive their rebellion (33:6-8).

The streets now called a wasteland will hear weddings again, and worshipers bringing thank offerings and singing that the LORD is good and his faithful love lasts forever (33:10-11). Shepherds will count their flocks on the empty hills (33:12-13). God ties these promises to the steady turning of day and night (33:20-21, 25-26). As long as the sun keeps rising, his word stands. Lamentations confesses that his compassion does not run out and is renewed each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Each morning you wake to is a quiet pledge that God has not abandoned what he promised.

To think about: What ruined place in your life most needs the promise that God's mercy is new each morning?