Your Questions

---- Original Message -----

Subject: the use of Jer. 31:3

Why have you taken the text out of it's context? In YIRMEYAHU (Jeremiah) 31:3 it is written about ISRA'EL. The context is about Isra'el, and Isra'el is the subject for God's eternal love. I don't mean to say that God only loves Israel, but you shouldn't take verses out of context in that manner. ~ A.

Dear A.,

Thank you for contacting us! We appreciate your insight and Scriptural understanding.

We agree: The context is about Isra'el, and Isra'el is the subject for God's eternal love.

Jeremiah 31:³ The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

We appreciate your facts. We agree that you are absolutely right. However, we understand that Jeremiah 31:3 is a promise of and by God for all of His people. People who He has chosen from the beginning of the world. His people who choose to love and obey Him, and live according to His Will and for His glory alone.

It is our understanding that The Lord God is speaking about His Chosen People, Isra'el. This pertains to the people of that day, as well as those who are yet to be born and come to Him.

In the Book of Joel, the Lord says of a latter time:

Joel 2: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. ²⁹ Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, ¹⁴saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." ¹⁵And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. ¹⁶Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. ¹⁷Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6 <Please read the entire Book of Hebrews for more details and clarity.

The Lord clarifies that He chooses His people:

¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ¹⁷This is my command: Love each other. John 15

Isaiah prophesied of the Lord being the True Shepherd:

⁹ You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" ¹⁰ See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. ¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah⁴⁰

⁷Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ¹¹"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹⁴"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." John 10

Luke 24: ¹On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " ⁸Then they remembered his words. <This is what Resurrection Sunday (or Easter) is all about.

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant:

Isaiah 52: ¹³ See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. ¹⁴ Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness- ¹⁵ so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. <Isaiah 53 has more clarity of this person.

We understand that the Messiah has already come. He was the suffering servant. Later, when He returns again, it will be in victory, coming through the clouds. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.Romans 1: 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[ 16:16 Or Messiah; also in verse 20] the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:16

We hope our understanding does not offend you, but that the Lord is calling you into a deeper understanding of His vast and abundant love for you! May the Lord God Almighty pour upon you and your family His Holy Spirit as Joel prophesied!!

Below are some web pages for your perusal which contain mostly Scripture. May you and your household be blessed in God's Living Word always!! The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Deut 6:24-26

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Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psalm 103:1 KJV ~Seek the Lord... call on Him. Isaiah 55:6 ~Trust in the Lord with all of your heart... Proverb 3:5 ~Fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom. Proverb 15:33 ~He was pierced for our transgressions... Isaiah 53:5

You are welcomed to read Messianic Prophesies and Who is God? and Atonement.

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