Jeremiah 30:10 - Meaning and Application

In these verses, as in those before them, the sad condition of the Jews in captivity is described. Yet God also gives them precious promises that, in time, he will bring them relief and work a glorious rescue for them.

God himself seemed to be against them. He scattered them, and all these things came from his hand (Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 30:15). Whatever human tools were involved, he was the main one at work. That made their sorrow especially deep, because God, their own God, spoke against them to pull them down and destroy them. But he meant this as a father’s discipline, and nothing more (Jeremiah 30:11). He says, in effect, “I will correct you fairly, with wisdom and restraint, no more than you deserve, and no more than you can bear.”

When God acts against his people, it is always for correction, and that correction is always limited and guided by love. He does not leave them altogether unpunished, even if they are tempted to think he should because they belong to him. A profession of faith, no matter how impressive, will not keep us safe from punishment for sin. God shows no favoritism, but he does show his hatred of sin wherever he finds it, and he hates it most in those who are closest to him. He corrects his people because their iniquity is many, and because their sins have increased (Jeremiah 30:14, Jeremiah 30:15). If our troubles multiply, we should ask whether our sins have multiplied first.

But what God meant as fatherly discipline, they and others took as cruelty. They thought of him as one who had wounded them like an enemy and struck them like a harsh oppressor (Jeremiah 30:14). It seemed to them as if he had planned their ruin, with no mercy left in reserve. At times it did look that severe, as if God had turned into their enemy and was fighting against them (Isaiah 63:10). Job also felt as if God had become cruel to him and had increased his wounds. When troubles are heavy and long-lasting, we must watch our hearts carefully so we do not think such hard things about God and his care. His corrections come from mercy, not cruelty, even when they feel otherwise.

Their friends also abandoned them and kept their distance. Those who once courted them in prosperity would not notice them in distress (Jeremiah 30:13). This often happens when a family falls into ruin. People who used to cling to it then drift away. We especially want our friends in two situations. If we are accused or shamed, we hope they will speak for us. If we are sick or wounded, we hope they will comfort us and help us heal. But here there was no one to defend them, and no one to bind up their wounds. All their lovers had forgotten them. Out of sight had become out of mind. Instead of seeking them, they had abandoned them.

This has often happened to religion and serious godliness in the world. People who seemed, by upbringing, profession, or early promise, to be its friends and protectors, have deserted it. They forget it and say nothing for it, nor do they lift a hand to heal its wounds. Their lovers have forgotten them because God wounded them. When God is against a people, who can truly be for them? Who can help them in any lasting way? Because of this, their condition looked hopeless and beyond human help (Jeremiah 30:12; Jeremiah 30:15). Their wound seemed incurable, and their sorrow was too deep to heal. The Jews in captivity were in a state that no human power could fix. They were like a valley full of dead, dry bones, which only almighty power could bring to life.

Who could have imagined that such a weakened and impoverished people would ever return to their land and be settled there again? Their suffering was so great that nothing seemed able to ease it. Their souls refused comfort until God’s own comfort came, and then it proved stronger than their grief. Their sorrow was called incurable because their sins were not being repented of and abandoned, but increased. Incurable griefs usually come from incurable lusts. In this miserable state, others looked down on them (Jeremiah 30:17). They called them an outcast, abandoned and left to ruin. They said, “This is Zion, and no one seeks after her.” The city and temple lay in ruins, with no one traveling to them or living there. No one even asked the way to Zion as before. They also spoke that way about the people who had lived in Zion but were now in captivity. These were the people who belonged to Zion, who used to speak often of it and weep when they remembered it, yet no one cared to seek them out or ask about them.

It is often the lot of Zion to be deserted and despised by those around her. Yet God will, in due time, work deliverance and salvation for them. No other hand can heal their wound, but his hand can and will. Though he seemed to stand far away, he promises them his powerful and gracious presence: “I will save you” (Jeremiah 30:10). “I am with you, to save you” (Jeremiah 30:11). When they are in trouble, he is with them to keep them from sinking under it. When the time for rescue comes, he is with them to bring them out.

Though they are far from their own land, out in the land of captivity, salvation will find them there and bring them back, they and their children as well, for they too will be known among the nations and set apart from them, so that they may return (Jeremiah 30:10). Though they are now full of fears and constant alarms, the time will come when they will be at rest and quiet, safe and secure, with no one to make them afraid (Jeremiah 30:10).

Though the nations where they had been scattered were to be ruined, Israel would be kept safe from that ruin (Jeremiah 30:11). God says, “I will make a complete end of the nations among which I scattered you,” and there would have been reason to fear that his people would be lost among them. Yet he adds, “I will not make a complete end of you.” He had already promised that in the peace of those nations they would have peace (Jeremiah 29:7), and here he shows that even in the nations’ downfall, they would escape destruction.

God’s church may be brought very low at times, but he will not finish it off completely (Jeremiah 5:10, Jeremiah 5:18). He may rightly punish his people for their many sins and great guilt, yet he will return in mercy. Even their sin will not stop their rescue when God’s time comes.

Though their enemies are strong, God will bring them down and break their power (Jeremiah 30:16). “All who devour you will be devoured.” In that way, Zion’s cause will be shown to be a right cause before the whole world. Zion’s rescue will come through the ruin of her oppressors, and her enemies will be paid back for the harm they have done. There is a God who judges in the earth, and vengeance belongs to him. “They will all go into captivity,” and the day will come when those who now plunder God’s people will themselves be plundered. Those who lead others into captivity will also go into captivity (Revelation 13:10). This should have warned the present conquerors to treat their captives well, because the wheel would turn, and the day would come when they too would be captives. They should do to others now what they would wish done to themselves later.

Though the wound seems beyond healing, God will make it well (Jeremiah 30:17). “I will restore health to you.” No disease is too dangerous when God takes charge of the cure.

On the whole, they are warned against too much fear and grief, because these precious promises are enough to quiet both. They must not shake with fear as people who have no hope, thinking only of future trouble that may come upon them (Jeremiah 30:10). “Do not be afraid, my servant Jacob, and do not be dismayed.” Those who belong to God must not give in to anxious fear, whatever dangers lie ahead.

They must also not keep sorrowing as people without hope over the troubles they are under now (Jeremiah 30:15). “Why do you cry out because of your pain?” It is true that their human helpers have failed them, and creatures are useless as doctors. But God says, “I will heal your wound,” so why keep crying out? Why keep fretting and complaining? Their trouble comes because of their sin (Jeremiah 30:14, Jeremiah 30:15), so instead of resisting, they should repent. Why should anyone complain about the punishment of sin? The outcome will be good in the end, so they should rejoice in hope.