God pronounces to Israel amazing promises of future redemption in Jeremiah 31. He begins by reassuring the nation of His everlasting love towards them (31:3). His special relationship with His chosen people would never change. Even in the despair of the Exile, they could be certain of God's unchanging promises.

Final Return to The Land

Within the context of the New Covenant passage, God tells His chosen people they would return to the land that He gave their fathers (30:1–3). Jeremiah had previously written they would return from Babylon after seventy years (29:10). However, the return mentioned here has conditions that have not been met.

On that day, after being delivered from Jacob's trouble, Israel would never again be enslaved. They would serve God and a resurrected King David (30:8–9). This possible veiled reference to the reign of the Messiah over Israel recalls Jeremiah 23:5–8.

Enjoying The Renewed Land

The Lord continues saying He would heal Israel and defeat all her enemies. Then, beginning by Jeremiah 31:4, He details the fullness of life they would enjoy in the land. They would dance with tambourines and plant new vineyards (31:4–5). God will support and lead the weeping to rivers. They will not stumble (31:9). Perhaps most striking is the blessing that Israel would never again experience sorrow (31:12, 25).

Just as God sovereignly judged the nation, He will take responsibility to sow their restoration. In that day, no one will have justification to blame their fathers for their condition (31:27–29).

Spiritual Transformation

Next, God promises the nation a series of spiritual blessings framed as a covenant. It will be unlike the one given to their forefathers.

The Mosaic Covenant prescribed obedience for blessings and curses for disobedience. After Moses gave them the Law, Israel needed to agree to "do all that the Lord has spoken" (Exodus 19:8). Yet, in the New Covenant each item begins with "I will." God will accomplish a transformation for His people without regard to their works!

In the days Israel permanently dwells in their land, God will put His law in their hearts and write it on their minds (31:33). In the past, they needed physical reminders of God's Word (Deut. 6:8–9). Then, they would have perfect memory of His commands.

Beyond mere knowledge of Him, Israel will become God's people with an intimate relationship to Him (31:34). Previously, God ordained the Levites to teach the people the Law (Leviticus 10:10–11). In the age to come, their perfect community with God will eliminate class divisions.

Finally, God will forgive His people and never again remember their sin. Jesus Christ took away the sins of the world judicially as a barrier for accessing eternal life (John 1:29). However, the forgiveness of the New Covenant is future, national in scope, and personal in application. God will forever cleanse the Jewish people, so they have universal access to Him in fellowship.

The Covenant Assurances

Jeremiah 31 concludes with God giving clear guarantees of His promises. Just as the stars and moon are fixed in the heavens, so God's Word is firm and will not fail to come to pass. By God's grace alone, Israel will not cease to become a nation in that day. They could do nothing to revoke or nullify His promise.

Verses 38–40 pictures a restored and expanded city with seven geographic markers. Most of these points scholars have identified as outside the boundaries of the city from the time of neither Nehemiah, Herod the Great, or up to the present. Only in the future Millennium will the city be established according to the New Covenant, when it will never again be destroyed.¹