“Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord of hosts is his name: ‘If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the Lord, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.’” (Jeremiah 31:35-36)

This passage reflects on the creation narrative in Genesis 1:16-17. First, it reaffirms that God, not chance, put the sun and moon in the sky. Second names, this God as the Lord of hosts, distinguishing the one true, living God from all the recognized deities of the regions. Third, he reaffirms his eternal covenant with Israel.

Note that the longevity of his covenant with Israel is contingent upon the longevity of the fixed order of the heavens. That is a solid covenant. I find it interesting that the longevity of this covenant comes immediately following God‘s declaration that he will make a new covenant with Israel. Since the order of the heavens has not changed, I conclude that the new covenant does not abrogate the covenant God made with Israel at Sinai. That does not mean the new covenant doesn’t exist or that it relates to Israel. It simply means the New Covenant, in my words, adds to the Old Covenant.

Application: 1) If Israel will continue to be a nation before the Lord, as long as the sun and moon are in the heavens, I need to think soberly about how I view and interact with Israel. 2) If God has made a new covenant with Israel, it is incumbent upon me to try to figure out how the Old and New Covenants work together in relation to Israel.

Father, thank you that you are a God who is faithful to your covenants. Thank you for bringing me into your family through the new covenant. I trust that you will be completely faithful to that covenant, and that I will benefit eternally from it. Amen.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

This is powerful. While it is written to Israel in exile, I believe it reveals the truth about God that applies to all people everywhere.

1. (11) Even though Israel was so wicked that God sent them into exile, He says He has plans for them. God has not abandoned His covenant with them. Apparently, when He said “forever,” He meant forever.
2. (11) God’s future for Israel is restoration, not destruction or abandonment.
3. (12) Israel will call on God, and He will hear them.
4. (13) He promises they will find Him when they seek Him with all their heart.

My thoughts are on the condition of verse 13. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” I don’t know how to measure “with all your heart.” However, I think it means with sincerity. Perhaps, “with all your heart” means with the same energy and commitment we would search for our lost car keys if we were late for a meeting at which we would receive one million dollars, but only if we are present.

It’s hard to measure the heart, so we can’t look at someone who seems to be low energy about finding God and say, “You aren’t seeking with all your heart.” I suspect this is more of a personal standard that we use to measure our own hearts.

Jesus uses similar wording in His Sermon on the Mount: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

Father, please grow me in my faith so that I am more regularly seeking you with all my heart. Amen.