Scripture: Jeremiah 31:23-25 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.’ People will live together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks. I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Devotion: Perhaps you have heard the verse from Jeremiah 31:25 before, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” While this statement is true of our God, that He refreshes us and satisfies us, it gains much deeper meaning when we understand the context around it.
The book of Jeremiah was written by the prophet Jeremiah. He was called by God to proclaim a message of judgement against Israel. The Israelites were constantly waffling back and forth between worship of the one true God and worship of idols. They would have a ruler who would lead them in the ways of the Lord, and then they would have a leader who led them astray. Eventually, the Israelites proved themselves unable to keep their covenant with God. Out of love for His people, God has bound Himself to the Israelites and expected worshipful obedience in return. But they failed to do so. As such, they would face God’s judgement. Jeremiah was the one that God used to foretell of this.
However, the book of Jeremiah is not without hope. Here is what Louie Giglio says, “The prophet knew that God’s character was unchanging and his mission was sure. God would secure a remnant of worshipers from among the exiled nation. Because of his faithful love for his people, God would bring the people back from captivity and into right relationship with himself (Jer. 30:18-31:6). As a result, the people would once again sing for joy at the glory of God’s salvation.”
Our verses from today are in that section of Jeremiah where we see hope. Can you imagine how worn out and exhausted the Israelites are? They have been tossed around between good kings and evil kings, forsaking their covenant with their Lord, and exiled from their land. But those remnant few who have been preserved by God and continued to worship Him are given the promise of Jeremiah 31:25, that God will refresh their weary souls and satisfy them. Recognizing how rich this promise of rest is helps us to better grasp God’s love and understanding of His people. Rather than promise gold, silver, and power, what did God promise them? He promises them rest. He knew that His people were tired and needed a constant, steady refreshing that He alone could provide. What a blessing it is that we have a God who understands our every desire, right down to our need for physical and spiritual rest.
Reflect:
- What does it mean to you that God understands your very inmost needs and desires?
