God shows Jeremiah the return of the Jews, 1-3. After their trouble they shall have deliverance, 4-9. He comforts Jacob, 10-17. Their return shall be gracious, 18-22. Wrath shall fall on the wicked, 23, 24.
1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying, 'Write for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 3 For behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,' says the LORD, 'and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.'"
4 And these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah:
5 "For thus says the LORD:
'We have heard a voice of trembling,/
of fear, and not of peace.
6 Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child./
Why do I see every man/
with his hands on his loins as a woman in travail,/
and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas! For that day is great/
so that none is like it./
It is even the time of Jacob's trouble,/
but he shall be saved out of it.
8 'For it shall come to pass in that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off your neck and will tear off your bonds, and strangers shall no longer bring him into subjection, 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.
10 'Therefore, do not fear, O my servant Jacob,' says the LORD,/
'neither be dismayed, O Israel,/
for behold, I will save you from afar/
and your offspring from the land of their captivity,/
and Jacob shall return and be in rest and quiet,/
and no one shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with you,' says the LORD, 'to save you./
Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you,/
yet I will not make a full end of you./
But I will correct you in measure/
and will not leave you altogether unpunished.'
12 For thus says the LORD:/
'Your bruise is incurable/
and your wound is grievous.
13 There is no one to plead your cause,/
so that you may be bound up./
You have no healing medicines.
14 All your lovers have forgotten you./
They do not seek you,/
for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,/
with the chastisements of a cruel one,/
for the multitude of your iniquity/
because your sins were increased.
15 Why do you cry for your affliction?/
Your sorrow is incurable/
for the multitude of your iniquity./
Because your sins were increased,/
I have done these things to you.
16 Therefore, all those who devour you shall be devoured./
And all your adversaries, every one of them shall go into captivity./
And those who plunder you shall be plunder,/
and all who prey upon you I will give for plunder.
17 For I will restore health to you/
and heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD,/
'because they called you Outcast, saying,/
"This is Zion, whom no man seeks after."'
18 Thus says the LORD:/
'Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob's tents/
and have mercy on his dwelling places,/
and the city shall be built upon her own heap,/
and the palace shall remain after its manner.
19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving/
and the voice of those who make merry./
And I will multiply them, and they shall not be few./
I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children shall also be as in former time,/
and their congregation shall be established before me,/
and I will punish all who oppress them.
21 And their nobles shall be from themselves/
and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them./
And I will cause him to draw near,/
and he shall approach me./
For who is this who engaged his heart/
to approach me?' says the LORD.
22 'And you shall be my people,/
and I will be your God.'"
23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goes forth with fury,/
a continuing whirlwind./
It shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return/
until he has done it and until he has performed/
the intents of his heart./
In the latter days you shall consider it.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Jeremiah, Chapter 30[➚]