Much of the book of Jeremiah is prophesying judgement for his own nation but in chapter 31 there is an item of good news. It is very much in the future, however. The prophet introduces this subject with the words, "The time is coming," declares the Lord. [Jeremiah 31:31 NIV]. God is promising a brighter future for the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Of course, the nation of Israel had been divided after the death of Solomon and the former kingdom of Israel had disappeared off the map when it was overrun by the Assyrians. But here there is a promise which is to the whole Jewish nation.
What is a covenant? A covenant is an agreement between two parties and it normally involves the cooperation of both parties. If one party defaults, the covenant becomes invalid. This is virtually what happened to the old covenant which was made at Sinai when the Israelites were crossing the desert towards the promised land. It was God who instituted the old covenant. The expression 'I took them by the hand' stresses the divine initiative. (Jeremiah 31:32) This is a poetic way of making clear that the people were helpless, until God, as it were, put his hand in theirs to lead them out of the land of Egypt, the place of their captivity. But the nation of Israel failed to keep this covenant and this rendered it null and void. (See Jeremiah 11:1-5).
So God is introducing a new covenant with his people and, although this is not stated in Jeremiah, this covenant brings blessing to the world and not just the nation of Israel. It will be fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah. I would like to underline some of the features of the new covenant and how this differed from the old covenant. Praise God that we are brought into the new covenant in Christ. This passage from Jeremiah is cited in the New Testament in the letter to the Hebrews and this contrasts the old covenant with the new. Here are some features of this new covenant.
This new covenant was not written on tablets of stone but was in their minds and written in their hearts. In the Old Testament the law (ten commandments were chiselled into stone) but the difference is that the new covenant would affect the mind and hearts of those who were brought into this covenant. So the new covenant is not about keeping a set of rules or commandments. It implies a new heart - a new life. So the idea of the new birth is implicit in this statement. It is only when there is a new beginning and the Holy Spirit indwells the believer in the Lord Jesus, that it is possible to live a life which is well pleasing to God. This comes not only from the mind (intellect) but it comes from a change in the heart which speaks about the emotions and the will of the individual.
The new covenant involved a deeper and a mutual relationship. "I will be their God, and they will be my people." Jeremiah goes on to speak about "knowing God," (verse 34)
No need for intermediaries. The Jews in the Old Testament depended on the priest to offer sacrifices on their behalf. They could not approach God on their own initiative. Under the new covenant, Jeremiah states, "No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying. 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me. This is a great truth that every believer in Christ is a priest and can approach God directly without the need for a go-between or an intermediary (1Peter 2:5, 9 teaches that all believers, men and women are priests).
No class distinctions in the new covenant. Not only would every believer have equal access to God, but there would be no hierarchy in the new covenant. "They will all know me from the least of them to the greatest," (verse 34). This is in keeping with Galatians 3:28.
" I will remember their sins no more." Forgiveness is complete in this new covenant and there is no possibility of sins, once forgiven, being brought against the people of God. Before the Christian era, all assurances of forgiveness of sin were based on the efficacy of that perfect sacrifice yet to be offered - the Old Testament offerings pointed to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. The person in the Old Testament did not enjoy the blessings of sins forgiven as we do.
Does all this apply to us today? This passage in Jeremiah is quoted in full in the letter to the Hebrews which is written to show that the Old Testament has been superseded by the New Testament (or Covenant). See Hebrews chapter 1 to set this teaching in its context.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. [Hebrew 1:1-2 NIV] In the past refers to the Old Testament or the Old Covenant, but the expression, " in these last days," refers to the New Testament or the New Covenant. So it is all wrapped up in Jesus Christ the Messiah and we have been brought into the good of this new covenant by faith in Him.
I am so glad and grateful for the New Covenant. What a blessing is ours to be part of this new covenant - entirely by God's grace.
[Picture by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash]
Everyone that has accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour is an example of the New Covenant at work in their lives. I recall very clearly on the day that I returned to work after I had accepted Christ into my life, the things that I had previously accepted as 'normal industrial world' behaviour, I now found offensive. I had indeed been born again! My old life had ended and my new life had begun and for that I am truly thankful.
Well said Robert. Literalists and Dispensationalists get this passage and relationship between Old and New covenants, Jewish Israel and biblical Israel - the Church, so wrong!