Jeremiah is writing a message of hope for the people who will inherit the promised land after the exile (Jeremiah 30:2-3). By the end of this post, I hope you’ll see that you are part of that people, in the restored kingdom of David. “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you…” (1 Peter 1:10-12).
The Lord points out Israel’s and Judah’s humiliating suffering under their enemies: it looks like all the men are giving birth (Jeremiah 30:6)! But he comforts them by pointing forward to the time when His people will be saved from this distress (Jeremiah 30:7). Verses 8-11 are basically a restatement of God’s covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7:9-16. In the day when God’s people are saved, God will permanently free them from serving foreigners (Jeremiah 30:8). Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king (Jeremiah 30:9).
Who is this David? From the Babylonian exile until the birth of Jesus, there was no king in the line of David. Jeremiah must be pointing to the salvation that will come in the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, the Son of David. God’s people will no longer be conquered, because they will serve their own king. They will no longer be corrupted by idolatrous nations, because they will serve the Lord their God.
In the days of Jesus’ kingdom, Jacob will be brought back from captivity and fear no one (Jeremiah 30:10). Is this only talking about ethnic Jews? Are Gentile Christians not called children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7) and elect exiles (1 Peter 1:1-2)? Peter says we are still in a time of exile (1 Peter 1:17) and should expect to suffer (1 Peter 4:12-19), even though Jesus has come to save us. Jeremiah 30:10 explains this by saying that we are being brought back from exile. Someday we will be at ease, but for now we’re walking on a long road to Zion.
Jesus’ kingdom will be the last kingdom. God is gathering his elect exiles from all nations, and he will destroy all of those nations; while Jesus’ kingdom will be disciplined, but never destroyed (Jeremiah 30:11). God will treat His people how He promised to treat the Son of David (2 Samuel 7:14-15). Jesus has overcome the world, and only his kingdom will last forever. You can perish with the world, or enter his everlasting kingdom now by faith and repentance.
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).
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