What does "the days are coming" signify about God's promises in Jeremiah 23:7? Setting the Context Jeremiah 23 addresses corrupt leaders in Judah and promises a righteous Branch who will shepherd God’s people. Verse 7 says, “So then, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt.’” Meaning of “the days are coming” - A prophetic marker that God Himself sets on His calendar. - Announces a future moment already fixed in His sovereign plan. - Signals certainty; in Hebrew narrative, “behold” and “coming” together underscore inevitability. - Implies a transition point—life after this event will be spoken of differently. What This Reveals About God’s Promises • Certainty: God speaks of the future as assured fact (cf. Isaiah 46:10). • Continuity: He who acted in the Exodus will act again; His character never changes (Malachi 3:6). • Greater Redemption: The coming deliverance will eclipse the Exodus in Israel’s collective memory (Jeremiah 23:8). • Messianic Foreshadowing: By placing the promise in the future, God points to the ultimate Shepherd-King (Jeremiah 23:5-6). • Hope for the Remnant: Even amid judgment, the phrase pledges restoration (Jeremiah 29:11-14). • Timing Is God’s Prerogative: “Coming” lets the faithful wait in trust without fixing dates (Acts 1:7). Echoes in Other Passages - Jeremiah 31:31 – “Behold, the days are coming… I will make a new covenant.” - Amos 9:13 – “Behold, the days are coming… the plowman will overtake the reaper.” - Isaiah 2:2 – “In the last days, the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established.” Each repetition reinforces the theme: God declares, therefore fulfillment is guaranteed. Personal Takeaway - When Scripture says, “the days are coming,” treat it as a signed contract from God; He will deliver. - Past acts (Exodus, cross, empty tomb) anchor our confidence that future promises—Christ’s return, full restoration—are just as certain. - Living between promise and fulfillment calls for faith-soaked obedience and expectant hope (Hebrews 10:23). |
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