JEREMIAH 30
Jeremiah saw in Judah’s exile a picture of the future day of national suffering (“the time of Jacob’s trouble” [v. 7]), when the Jews will go through tribulation. He also saw in their restoration from exile a promise of the regathering of Israel in the latter days.
Judah had sinned, so God had to correct them in love; but He would not permit their enemies to take advantage of them. God is faithful to His people even when they are not faithful to Him (2 Tim. 2:12–13).
He chastens us so that He might heal us (vv. 12–17). The trials that He sends may be like bitter medicine, but they have a way of healing the sinful heart: “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (
In times of suffering, live for the joys of “afterward.”