Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love"
Text: Jeremiah 31:3
THE EVERLASTING LOVE OF GOD
The LORD sought to reassure Israel of His love. His love had always been there, despite the chastisement that He had to allow Israel to experience. Love does not exclude discipline and punishment!
“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying:
‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
You shall again be adorned with your tambourines,
And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.'”
Jeremiah 31:3-4
1. “The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying”
a) This message was to be conveyed to Israel by Jeremiah.
b) The LORD had appeared (manifested) His love from ancient days.
c) Each manifestation of the LORD to Israel was an expression of His love.
d) His love should have been obvious to Israel:
i) His provision
ii) His protection
iii) His presence
2. “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you”
a) The nature of God’s love.
i) It is an everlasting kind of love.
ii) It is Divine love.
iii) It is an incomparable love.
b) The lovingkindness of God.
i) It is expressed in grace.
ii) In mercy.
iii) In faithfulness.
3. “Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel!
You shall again be adorned with your tambourines,
And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice”
a) The promise of rebuilding Israel.
i) The Lord has promised that He will rebuild Israel.
ii) This promise will be fulfilled.
b) O virgin of Israel!
i) This is an old expression of endearment.
ii) God’s affection for Israel may be described as “first-love”.
iii) God will look after all the needs of the nation.
c) The people can look forward to:
i) Days of community joy.
ii) Where people danced to the beat and sound of tambourines.
iii) There will be much rejoicing when God rebuilt the nation.