Jeremiah 31:1

Jeremiah 31:1 says,  At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.  God said that when He had restored the people to the land that He had give them that He would be their God and they would be His people.  He would restore those who had remained faithful to Him.  There would once again only be one people, not Israel and Judah.  Verse two declares, 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.  God reminded them of the people who came out of Egypt.  God said those who were spared the sword found grace in the wilderness.  They would once again be the same because of God's grace.  No matter how separated we may be as followers of Christ, we are still one people because of God's grace.  Verse three adds, The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.  God reminded them that He had appeared to their forefathers in the past, and that He declared His everlasting lovingkindness for them and when He called them into a covenant relationship with Him.  Verse four continues, Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.  God said that He was going to once again build Israel and that their joy would be restored.  As followers of Christ, we should live in the joy of our salvation.  Verse five says, Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.  All was not lost forever, because God was still in control.  Even if we find ourselves in the worst of situations today, if we keep our faith in God all will never be lost.  Verse six adds, For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. God said the day was coming when the watchmen would once again be on Mount Ephraim and would look out and see nothing but peace, just as the day is coming when we are in our heavenly home and will look out and see nothing but peace.  Verse seven states, For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.  God said that they were to sing out in praise and to ask Him to restore the remnant of Israel.  They were to sing out in praise even before they were restored, just as we are to sing out in praise today even before we are called home to glory.  Verse eight declares, Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.  God said that He was going to bring all His remnant back to the land He had given them, no matter how they were doing physically.  Physical condition will never keep anyone from coming to God and being a part of His kingdom.  Verse nine adds, They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.  God said that they would return with weeping and supplication, but that He would lead them by rivers of water in a straight way so that they would not stumble, not because of who they were , but because of Who He was.  We can walk by the Living Water today in a path that is straight if we walk by faith in God.  Verse ten states, Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.  God called on the rest of the nations to acknowledge that it was God Who had gathered the people of Israel together again.  One day, when Christ returns and all of God's people are gathered together, the rest of the world will acknowledge that God is God.  Verse eleven adds, For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.  Just as God said He had redeemed and ransomed Jacob. or the people of Israel, He has redeemed and ransomed those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve continues, Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.  God said that the people of Israel would rejoice and sorrow no more.  We as Christians should rejoice in the Lord and sorrow no more.  Verse thirteen declares, Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.  God's promise was that He would return joy to the people of Israel, from the old to the young.  Verse fourteen adds, And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.  The priests would once again be full of God's word and the people would be satisfied with the goodness of God.  Preachers today need to be filled with God's word, and we as followers of Christ need to be satisfied with His goodness,