Jer 30:1-3 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

God tells Jeremiah to write all those prophecies which have been given to him down in a book. The book is to be preserved for the people.

The book will contain the prophecies of captivity AND return. If God will lead us TO it, God will lead us THROUGH it! They will be returned to the land and shall "possess" it as at the first.

4 And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore 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, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

When they were in prosperity and sought to please themselves through vain idol worship, God had prophesied of FEAR. The false prophets had spoken of "peace," but God has proven ALWAYS to be right!

The men will suffer such great pain when they see the cities destroyed and people carried off into captivity that it will as if they were in labor to have a child. Every man will be in such fear his face will turn PALE. It is the time of "Jacob's trouble." The time when they will be carried away into captivity. Jacob's family had suffered, and been transferred to Egypt where they were in captivity for 400 years. But these will not suffer so greatly. They will only be in captivity for 70 years.

And just as God's promise was true to bring them INTO bondage, so will God's promise be true to bring them OUT! The "yoke" will be broken, and they will return to their own land. Their, they will serve the Lord as they should and not turn to idols again.

10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. 12 For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. 13 There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. 14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.

Though they are in great physical fear, they will have spiritual peace. God says they are to "fear..not" concerning their loss because God is WITH them.

How often do we fear from physical problems, but God is WITH us to give comfort and encouragement? It is "incurable" that we shall suffer great distress in the world, but God is our "Helper."

Though there is no healing medicine which will save us from death, God has given us peace to know that we can immediately come to Him upon death.

15 Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. 16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. 17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. 18 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. 19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

We must realize that physical affliction, emotional trauma and even death occurs because of "sins" (verse 15). Sin always has consequences. We have the freedom to choose our actions, but we have NOT the freedom to choose the consequences.

But for those who have intentionally brought pain and suffering to God's people, there is a judgment day coming. It will be a day when God shall inflict horrible suffering and pain upon those who have brought injury to His people.

When God "returns" His people to live with Him eternally in bliss, those who have refused God and injuriously treated His people will be placed in an eternal "inferno"!

20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. 21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD. 22 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth 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 have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

All those who have followed God by surrender and have been obedient to His Word shall be His "people," and He alone shall be their GOD (verse 22).

It is God's will and intent that shall surely be done throughout time and eternity (verse 24). Those who love God and follow Him shall be saved to a glorious haven of rest where there shall be no sickness, disease, torment or death. But those who refuse God (the "wicked) shall be delivered to ETERNAL death - a place of existing without God in the wickedness of all evil for eternity.

What choice is there for a prudent man? Serve God!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.