Jeremiah 33:10

 Jeremiah 33:10 says, Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,  God said that the land of Judah would be bare, but that it wouldn't stay that way. even if the people gave up hope of the land being occupied again, God gave them assurance that it would be.  No matter how bad things may seem, we as Christians need to keep our faith in God.  Verse eleven adds, The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.  God said that they would once again praise Him, because He would return them to the land.  God had given them the land to begin with, and they had only lost it due to a lack of faith.  If our life seems to be hopeless as followers of Christ, we need to simply return to Him in faith once again and we will find the joy of our salvation once more.  Verse twelve states, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.  God said that the land would once again be full of shepherds who would tend their flocks in peace.  God did not promise a land of military might, but a land of shepherds filled with His peace.  Verse thirteen adds, In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.  God said that the land would be filled with cities and people throughout.  The sheep would be under the authority of the shepherds, just as the people would be under the authority of God.  Verse fourteen says, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.  God told Jeremiah and the people of Judah that the day was coming when He would restore them.  The day is coming when we as God's people will be called home to heaven, God's promised land for us.  Verse fifteen adds, In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.  God then gave the promise if the coming Messiah.  This is where the only hope of salvation lies.  Just as the people of Judah and Israel failed to live up to God's standards and therefore earned all the destruction that came to them, so does everyone at any time in history.  Yet, God provides a way of redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. Verse sixteen states, In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.  God said that Jerusalem and Judah would be saved, and that it would be done for glory of God.  We must always give God the glory in our lives if we are followers of Christ.  Verse seventeen adds,  For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;  This was not a promise of a descendant of David being on the throne physically forever, but of the coming Messiah Who would be spiritually on the throne forever.  Verse eighteen continues, Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.  There would never be a lack of a Priest, but this was not an earthly priest, because they once again became corrupt, but a heavenly Priest, Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  He is still our Priest today, standing in our place before God if we put our faith in Him.