03/25/2026
Jeremiah 31:2 “Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.”
Jesus planned on taking His people from Babylon to Jerusalem now. They had learned to humbly submit and obey finally. But not everybody was taken to Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem to fight the Jews, some left and hid out in the wilderness and desert! They decided to not fight or to rebel. So they did not die and yet they too learned the lesson of humility and submission.
Jesus knew where they were and how they felt and if they were changed or not. They suffered a lot too, and were dealing with their own attitudes and thoughts of their disobedience and rejection of God and His words from His prophet. They were not slaves in Babylon but they were still captives in dens and caves and rocks, in the heat and cold! They did not have a bed, or a house, or a store or market to buy food. No jobs or money or lives! This was very harsh and uncomfortable, and educating to them as well. Amen?
But Jesus’ eye was on them too. And with all their own inconveniences, Jesus did not leave them alone! He gave them peace and rest. They needed this time to reflect and consider their own choices, when Jeremiah spoke to the people. What do we think they thought about? As they are looking at the destroyed city of Jerusalem, and the razed temple? Maybe they should have listened earlier? Maybe they should have stood up for the prophet? Maybe they should have spared not and cried aloud too? Maybe this would have been averted if they would have done those things?
They too, had 70 years of languishing and suffering and commiserating. Amen? And Jesus was well aware of their thoughts and attitudes and repentance. And how they felt, and their genuine sorrow for their selfish sins. Frankly, it might have been worse than being sent to Babylon as slaves!
And our study verse, is letting us know that Jesus knows what they were going through. And He is giving them rest. The Hebrew word means to have quiet, or ease. For 70 years they were hunted, afraid, cold, hungry and continually depressed at the thought that this all happened to them because of their bad choices! Imagine the depression, and the devil coming after them all day long! God has left you, you are lost now, He will never listen to Your prayers anymore!
But Jesus did not leave them, hallelujah! He was right beside them, and was trying to give them rest. We are to look at this verse, and let Jesus express to us this truth so we too can get comfort and rest! Have we made bad decisions? Are we still afraid and feel like our choices have ruined our relationship with our God? Is the devil continually whispering to us, that we won’t make it and it is too late for us now? Then this verse is for us!
Jesus is telling us that He is still here and wants to give us rest for our weary minds! As long as we are willing to repent and choose to obey our God now, He will bless us again! Hallelujah! We don’t think about these wilderness survivors, because we are focusing on the Jews in Babylon. But when Ezra and Nehemiah brought the Jews back from Babylon, these refugees were also excited at this prospect too! Amen? Did this news give them “rest” as well? You better believe it!
We forgot about them, but Jesus didn’t! This verse proves it, amen? And if He knows and thinks about the wandering ones in the desert and wildness, does He also think about us? When we are alone, cast out of the church, in the wilderness, and suffering out in the cold, does Jesus know what we are going through? Read our study verse again, it will help us to know the truth.
He is causing us to have rest. He loves us and knows what we are going through. That we have been separated and alone. No physical church, no denomination, and no fellowship. But He is still here! Hallelujah! Rejoice in what Jesus is revealing to us:
Jeremiah 31:2 “Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.”
~Joey Olson