Jeremiah 31:15-26
The beautiful restoration of Israel announced in the first part of the chapter will be preceded by bitter tears. The afflicted people can be seen in the picture of Rachel, the wife of Jacob, weeping for her lost children. (As is often the case in Scripture, this v. 15 has already happened in part, when the little children were massacred in Bethlehem: Matthew 2:18). But for this people it was a case of godly sorrow, which "worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of" (2 Corinthians 7:10). Vv. 18-20 show us that God clearly hears the expression of such sorrow. Listen to Ephraim telling his story. The divine reproof was a good thing; it led to his conversion, together with true repentance. His awareness of himself covered him with shame and confusion. He condemns his bad and wild youth. Can each of us say the same thing? Let us listen equally then to how God delights to call us: "my dear son, a pleasant child." Our confession immediately meets with a personal and intimate witness of the eternal Love, as well as the resources which go with it: "I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul" (v. 25).