This is what the LORD says: In this place you say is a wasteland without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted--inhabited by neither man nor beast--there will be heard again “Thus says the LORD”This phrase introduces a divine proclamation, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. In Hebrew, "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, often rendered as Yahweh or Jehovah. This introduction is a common prophetic formula, underscoring that the message is not from the prophet's own mind but from God Himself. It reminds us of the importance of listening to God's voice and recognizing His ultimate authority in our lives. “You say about this place,”
The phrase "this place" refers to Jerusalem, which at the time of Jeremiah's prophecy was under threat from Babylonian forces. Historically, Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship and identity, and its impending destruction was a source of great distress. The use of "you say" indicates the people's perception and their current despair, highlighting the contrast between human perspective and divine promise. “It is a desolate waste,”
The Hebrew word for "desolate" is "shamem," which conveys a sense of utter devastation and emptiness. This reflects the physical and spiritual desolation that the people of Jerusalem were experiencing. The term "waste" further emphasizes the complete ruin and abandonment, painting a picture of hopelessness. Yet, in the biblical narrative, desolation often precedes restoration, reminding us of God's power to bring life from barrenness. “without man or beast,”
This phrase underscores the totality of the desolation, indicating that the land is devoid of life. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the presence of humans and animals was a sign of prosperity and divine blessing. Their absence signifies judgment and curse. However, this stark imagery sets the stage for God's promise of renewal, illustrating that even the most desolate situations can be transformed by His grace. “Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem”
Here, the focus shifts to the specific locations within the land of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. Historically, these were the heartlands of the Jewish people, rich in cultural and religious significance. The mention of "towns" and "streets" personalizes the prophecy, bringing it down to the level of everyday life. It serves as a reminder that God's promises are not just for the nation as a whole but for individual communities and lives. “that are deserted, inhabited by neither man nor beast,”
This repetition reinforces the extent of the desolation, emphasizing the complete absence of life. The Hebrew word for "deserted" is "azab," which can also mean forsaken or abandoned. This reflects the people's feeling of being abandoned by God. Yet, the repetition also serves to heighten the impact of the forthcoming promise of restoration, illustrating that no situation is beyond God's redemptive power. “there will be heard again”
This phrase introduces a promise of hope and restoration. The word "again" is crucial, indicating a return to a previous state of blessing and life. It suggests that the desolation is not permanent and that God has a plan for renewal. This is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and His ability to restore what has been lost, encouraging believers to trust in His promises even in the darkest times. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who speaks through the prophet Jeremiah. 2. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of both judgment and hope to the people of Judah. 3. JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, which faced destruction and exile due to its disobedience to God. 4. JerusalemThe capital city of Judah, significant for its spiritual and political importance, and the location of the Temple. 5. DesolationThe state of Judah and Jerusalem as described in this verse, reflecting the consequences of sin and the Babylonian conquest. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in RestorationDespite the desolation, God has the power and authority to restore and renew. Trust in His promises even when circumstances seem bleak. Hope in the Midst of DesolationJust as God promised to bring life back to Judah and Jerusalem, He can bring hope and renewal to our lives when we face desolation. The Consequences of DisobedienceThe desolation of Judah serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of turning away from God. It calls us to examine our own lives and remain faithful. The Faithfulness of God's PromisesGod's promise to restore Jerusalem is a testament to His faithfulness. We can rely on His promises in Scripture for our own lives. The Role of ProphetsJeremiah's role as a prophet highlights the importance of listening to God's messengers and heeding their warnings and promises. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding the historical context of Judah's desolation enhance our comprehension of God's promise in Jeremiah 33:10? 2. In what ways can we apply the message of hope and restoration in Jeremiah 33:10 to our personal lives today? 3. How do the themes of desolation and restoration in Jeremiah 33:10 connect with other biblical accounts of redemption? 4. What can we learn from the consequences faced by Judah about the importance of obedience to God in our own lives? 5. How does Jeremiah 33:10 encourage us to trust in God's faithfulness, even when we face seemingly hopeless situations? Connections to Other Scriptures Jeremiah 29:10-14This passage also speaks of God's promise to restore His people after a period of desolation, emphasizing hope and future restoration. Isaiah 51:3Similar themes of comfort and restoration for Zion, where God promises to make the desolate places like the Garden of Eden. Ezekiel 36:33-36God promises to restore the land of Israel, turning desolation into a place of life and prosperity. Psalm 126:1-3A song of ascents that celebrates the restoration of Zion, reflecting joy and gratitude for God's deliverance. People Babylonians, Benjamin, David, Ezekiel, Isaac, Jacob, Jeremiah, LevitesPlaces Jerusalem, Negeb, ShephelahTopics Animal, Animals, Beast, Cities, Deserted, Desolate, Desolated, Inhabitant, Inhabited, Jerusalem, Judah, Saying, Says, Sounding, Streets, Thus, Towns, Unpeopled, Waste, Whereof, YetDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 33:10 5505 roads Jeremiah 33:10-11 5659 bride Jeremiah 33:10-16 6730 reinstatement Library A Threefold Disease and a Twofold Cure.
'I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against Me.'--JER. xxxiii. 8. Jeremiah was a prisoner in the palace of the last King of Judah. The long, national tragedy had reached almost the last scene of the last act. The besiegers were drawing their net closer round the doomed city. The prophet had never faltered in predicting its fall, but he had as uniformly …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThings Unknown
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."--Jeremiah 33:3. GOD'S PEOPLE WILL NEVER THRIVE on anything less substantial than bread from heaven. Israel in Egypt might live on garlic and onions, but Israel in the wilderness must be fed with the manna that came down from heaven, and with the water that gushed out of the rock, when it was smitten by the rod of God. The child of God, while he is yet in his sins, may, like other men, revel in them, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900 Discerning Prayer.
INTRODUCTORY. BY D.W. WHITTLE. To recognize God's existence is to necessitate prayer to Him, by all intelligent creatures, or, a consciously living in sin and under condemnation of conscience, because they do not pray to Him. It would be horrible to admit the existence of a Supreme Being, with power and wisdom to create, and believe that the creatures he thought of consequence and importance enough to bring into existence, are not of enough consequence for him to pay any attention to in the troubles …
Various—The Wonders of Prayer The Royal Priesthood
Gerhard Ter Steegen Jer. xxxiii. 18; Rev. i. 6 The race of God's anointed priests shall never pass away; Before His glorious Face they stand, and serve Him night and day. Though reason raves, and unbelief flows on, a mighty flood, There are, and shall be, till the end, the hidden priests of God. His chosen souls, their earthly dross consumed in sacred fire, To God's own heart their hearts ascend in flame of deep desire; The incense of their worship fills His Temple's holiest place; Their song with …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others The Best of the Best
"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys."--Song of Solomon 2:1. THE time of flowers has come, and as they are in some faint degree emblems of our Lord, it is well, when God thus calls, that we should seek to learn what he desires to teach us by them. If nature now spreads out her roses and her lilies, or prepares to do so, let us try, not only to see them, but to see Christ as he is shadowed forth in them. "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." If these are the words …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 42: 1896 Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Putting God to Work
"For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside thee who worketh for him that waiteth for him."--Isaiah 64:4. The assertion voiced in the title given this chapter is but another way of declaring that God has of His own motion placed Himself under the law of prayer, and has obligated Himself to answer the prayers of men. He has ordained prayer as a means whereby He will do things through men as they pray, which He would not otherwise do. Prayer …
Edward M. Bounds—The Weapon of Prayer Be Ye Therefore Perfect, Even as Your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect. Matthew 5:48.
In the 43rd verse, the Savior says, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward …
Charles G. Finney—Lectures to Professing Christians The Sermon of the Seasons
"Oh, the long and dreary Winter! Oh, the cold and cruel Winter!" We say to ourselves, Will spring-time never come? In addition to this, trade and commerce continue in a state of stagnation; crowds are out of employment, and where business is carried on, it yields little profit. Our watchmen are asked if they discern any signs of returning day, and they answer, "No." Thus we bow our heads in a common affliction, and ask each man comfort of his fellow; for as yet we see not our signs, neither does …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886 Twentieth Day for God's Spirit on the Heathen
WHAT TO PRAY.--For God's Spirit on the Heathen "Behold, these shall come from far; and these from the land of Sinim."--ISA. xlix. 12. "Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands to God."--PS. lxviii. 31. "I the Lord will hasten it in His time."--ISA. lx. 22. Pray for the heathen, who are yet without the word. Think of China, with her three hundred millions--a million a month dying without Christ. Think of Dark Africa, with its two hundred millions. Think …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession Truth Hidden when not Sought After.
"They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."--2 Tim. iv. 4. From these words of the blessed Apostle, written shortly before he suffered martyrdom, we learn, that there is such a thing as religious truth, and therefore there is such a thing as religious error. We learn that religious truth is one--and therefore that all views of religion but one are wrong. And we learn, moreover, that so it was to be (for his words are a prophecy) that professed Christians, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII Cleansing.
As there are conditions requiring to be complied with in order to the obtaining of salvation, before one can be justified, e. g., conviction of sin, repentance, faith; so there are conditions for full salvation, for being "filled with the Holy Ghost." Conviction of our need is one, conviction of the existence of the blessing is another; but these have been already dealt with. "Cleansing" is another; before one can be filled with the Holy Ghost, one's heart must be "cleansed." "Giving them the Holy …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life Curiosity a Temptation to Sin.
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."--Proverbs iv. 14, 15. The chief cause of the wickedness which is every where seen in the world, and in which, alas! each of us has more or less his share, is our curiosity to have some fellowship with darkness, some experience of sin, to know what the pleasures of sin are like. I believe it is even thought unmanly by many persons (though they may not like to say …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Jeremiah 33:10 NIVJeremiah 33:10 NLTJeremiah 33:10 ESVJeremiah 33:10 NASBJeremiah 33:10 KJV
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