Sometimes it is hard to have hope. Last night I was watching a baseball game on television. It was the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs with nobody on base. The team at bat was behind 4-0. Time to pack up and go home, right? The batter was walked. The next batter got a single. The next batter got on base when the shortstop fumbled the easy out. The next batter hit a home run. The score was tied, 4-4. Extra innings. And guess who won!
The prophet Jeremiah was living in such a time. It was the bottom of the ninth inning. God’s people were divided into two competing nations, Israel and Judah, northern and southern kingdoms. Leader after leader and follower after follower were hauled off into Exile. At almost every turn, the people of Yahweh were finding new ways to violate the Ten Commandments. As the saying goes, “It was all over but the shouting.” Sometimes it is hard to have hope.
But the prophet Jeremiah has a different word, a new promise. The prophet announces that God is going to win the game! Sin will be forgiven (v. 34). The broken-apart kingdoms will come together as one (v. 31). Serving God in love will become part of who God’s people are (v. 33).
In Luke .22:20, Jesus acknowledges that a new covenant is realized in Him. The apostle Paul understands that this victory is brought alive in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:25, 2 Corinthians 3:6). The writer of Hebrews knows Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the promise (Hebrews 9:15). (The writer of Hebrews even quotes the Jeremiah text—Hebrews 8:8.)
Sometimes it is hard to have hope.
But God has sent Jesus Christ to restore our broken relationship with God.
But God has sent Jesus Christ to restore our broken relationships with one another.
A covenant is an agreement between two parties. We are invited to say “Yes” to this new covenant.
