Jeremiah 29:11-Future & Hope -Israel's Restoration: New Covenant

Jeremiah 29:11 - God's Promise of Peace, Future, and Hope

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The Lord here places considerable emphasis on His unchangeable plan to bring peace and not evil, a future...a hope: God has not terminated His relationship with Judah; He remembered His covenant promises of restoration (see Deuteronomy 30:1-10). 

The Context: A Letter to Jewish Exiles in Babylon

Jeremiah 29 is a letter of encouragement written to the Jewish exiles already in Babylon. 

During the Millenium, Israel will understand the necessity for and the purpose of all their sufferings (Jeremiah 31:18-19) 

The Cities of Israel Restored

The cities of Israel will be rebuilt and Jerusalem is to become the praise and power center of all the earth (Jeremiah 30:18-21; 31:38-39; 33:7-9) 

Israel's Ultimate Restoration: Five Prophetic Promises

Jeremiah promised ultimate restoration. through five specific promises: 

1- Israel Will be Gathered from All Nations

Israel will be gathered back from all over the world (Jeremiah 3:14; 31:10; 32:37-43). 

2-God Will Appoint Godly Leaders

God will appoint leaders after His own heart (Jeremiah 3:15)

3-The Land Filled With God's Glory and People

The Lands will once again be filled with the glory and people of God (Jeremiah 3:16-18). This will be a far greater event than the original Exodus, when God brought the Israelites out of Egypt (Jeremiah 16:14-15; 23:7).

4- The Righteous Branch Will Rule From David's Throne

A righteous branch, the Savior, will occupy King David's throne, ruling with wisdom and justice (Jeremiah 23:5-6; 30:21; 33:17).

5- Jerusalem Rebuilt With Joy and Thanksgiving

Jerusalem will be rebuilt and filled with joy and great thanksgiving (Jer 31:4, 7-9, 12-14, 23-25; 33:10-12; 38:18-20). 

God's Preservation of the Faithful Remnant

God would preserve the godly exiles in Babylon and return them to Judah (Jer 24:1-7).

The New Covenant of Jeremiah: God's Eternal Promise 

The Nature of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34)

1- It would embrace the entire House of Israel

2-It would totally be unlike the old Mosaic Covenant.

3- God would inscribe his laws upon their hearts. Israel had always suffered from self inflicted spiritual heart trouble (Jer 17:1).

But under the New Covenant, the Heavenly Physician would offer them perfect and guaranteed successful heart transplants.

4- This nation with new hearts would then once again be God's people, and he their God. 

The Timing of the New Covenant.

1-It will go into effect "after those days" (Jeremiah 31:33), and following the "time of Jacob's trouble at the start of the glorious Millenium.

The Superiority of The New Covenant

It will be immutable, unconditional and eternal, as opposed to the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19:5-8).

"The Old Covenant was the law covenant grounded in legal observance. The New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8-12) will be entirely on the basis of grace and the sacrificial blood of Christ, which will be the foundation of Israel's future inward regeneration and restoration to God's favor. Israel's entering into the blessings of the New Covenant (Romans 11:1-26) will ensure her being an everlasting nation." M.F. Unger

God's Eternal Guarantee of the New Covenant

God himself assures Israel of the duration of this New Covenant when he declares: "If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel..." (Jer 31:37). See also Jeremiah 30:9;33:15-18). 

The Mediator of the New Covenant: Jesus Christ

The Son of David Himself, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is the Mediator of the NEw Covenant (Jeremiah 30:9; 33:15-18).