The Excellence of the Restored Nation
The word of the LORD comes to Jeremiah a second time while he is still shut up in the court of the guard. The Creator and establisher of all things calls Jeremiah to pray and promises to answer by revealing great and hidden things he has not known.
W1hile Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time: 2“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name: 3Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
The LORD first describes the city's houses being torn down for defense and filled with the dead under His anger, but then immediately promises healing, peace, restoration, cleansing, and pardon for Judah and Israel. Jerusalem will become for Him a name of joy and praise before the nations, who will tremble at all the good and prosperity He gives it.
4For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses of this city and the palaces of the kings of Judah that have been torn down for defense against the siege ramps and the sword: 5The Chaldeans are coming to fight and to fill those places with the corpses of the men I will strike down in My anger and in My wrath. I have hidden My face from this city because of all its wickedness. 6Nevertheless, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal its people and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. 7I will restore Judah and Israel from captivity and will rebuild them as in former times. 8And I will cleanse them from all the iniquity they have committed against Me, and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me. 9So this city will bring Me renown, joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I do for it. They will tremble in awe because of all the goodness and prosperity that I will provide for it.
The desolate land now said to be without man or beast will again hear gladness, bridal songs, and thanksgiving in the house of the LORD because the LORD restores the land's fortunes. Even in the ruined towns, shepherds will once more rest their flocks and count them as they pass under the hand.
10This is what the LORD says: In this place you say is a wasteland without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted — inhabited by neither man nor beast — there will be heard again 11the 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: 12This is what the LORD of Hosts says: In this desolate place, without man or beast, and in all its cities, there will once more be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. 13In the cities of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev, in the land of Benjamin and the cities surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.