311 "At that time ," declares the Lord , "I will be the God of all the families of Israel , and they shall be My people ." 2 Thus says the Lord , "The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness - Israel , when it went to find its rest ." 3 The Lord appeared to him from afar , saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love ; Therefore e I have drawn you with lovingkindness . 4 " Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt , O virgin of Israel ! Again you will take up your tambourines , And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers . 5 "Again you will plant vineyards On the hills of Samaria ; The planters will plant And will enjoy them. 6 "For there will be a day when watchmen On the hills of Ephraim call out, 'Arise , and let us go up to Zion , To the Lord our God .' " 7 For thus says the Lord , " Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob , And shout among the chief of the nations ; Proclaim , give praise and say , 'O Lord , save Your people , The remnant of Israel .' 8 "Behold , I am bringing them from the north country , And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth , Among them the blind and the lame , The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together ; A great company , they will return here . 9 " With weeping they will come , And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters , On a straight path in which they will not stumble ; For I am a father to Israel , And Ephraim is My firstborn ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 31:1-9
Commentary on Jeremiah 31:1-9
(Read Jeremiah 31:1-9)
God assures his people that he will again take them into covenant relation to himself. When brought very low, and difficulties appear, it is good to remember that it has been so with the church formerly. But it is hard under present frowns to take comfort from former smiles; yet it is the happiness of those who, through grace, are interested in the love of God, that it is an everlasting love, from everlasting in the counsels, to everlasting in the continuance. Those whom God loves with this love, he will draw to himself, by the influences of his Spirit upon their souls. When praising God for what he has done, we must call upon him for the favours his church needs and expects. When the Lord calls, we must not plead that we cannot come; for he that calls us, will help us, will strengthen us. The goodness of God shall lead them to repentance. And they shall weep for sin with more bitterness, and more tenderness, when delivered out of their captivity, than when groaning under it. If we take God for our Father, and join the church of the first-born, we shall want nothing that is good for us. These predictions doubtless refer also to a future gathering of the Israelites from all quarters of the globe. And they figuratively describe the conversion of sinners to Christ, and the plain and safe way in which they are led.