The Covenant of Hope: Restoration and Faith in God’s Promises

Be God's Glory
5 days ago
10 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Welcome to Day 233 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 31–32 highlights God’s unwavering plan for restoration and His call for faith amid uncertainty. In these chapters, God assures His people of a new covenant that goes beyond outward rituals and establishes a deep, internal relationship with Him. The promise of restoration includes joy, renewal, and security for Israel after the pain of judgment. At the same time, Jeremiah is instructed to perform an act of faith by purchasing land even while Jerusalem is under siege, symbolizing God’s guarantee that His people will once again thrive in the land He promised them. Together, these chapters reveal both God’s covenant faithfulness and His desire for His people to trust His word even in the darkest seasons.

Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah 31 paints a picture of hope and restoration for God’s people after the anguish of exile. God promises to bring Israel back from captivity, filling their hearts with joy, dancing, and abundance once more. The chapter emphasizes God’s everlasting love, declaring that His compassion will rebuild His people and they will flourish again. Most importantly, God introduces the promise of a new covenant—a covenant not written on stone tablets but written on the hearts of His people, where all will know Him personally and sins will be forgiven. This new covenant points forward to Christ and the intimate relationship believers have with God through Him. Ultimately, Jeremiah 31 reveals God’s mercy, His faithfulness to His promises, and His power to restore brokenness into renewal.

Jeremiah 32

Jeremiah 32 demonstrates faith in action during a time of despair. Jerusalem was under siege by Babylon, and yet God instructed Jeremiah to purchase a field from his cousin, Hanamel. This prophetic act symbolized hope—that even though the land was being overtaken, God’s people would one day return, plant vineyards, and live securely again. Jeremiah struggles to understand this command, but God reminds him that nothing is too hard for Him. Despite the coming judgment for Israel’s disobedience, God assures Jeremiah of His everlasting covenant of restoration, promising that joy, prosperity, and worship would once again fill the land. This chapter challenges believers to trust God’s promises even when circumstances seem impossible, affirming His sovereignty and faithfulness.

Origin & Meaning of the Name:

The name Jeremiah comes from the Hebrew Yirmĕyāhû or Yirmĕyāh, meaning “Yahweh will exalt,” “Yahweh appoints,” or “The Lord establishes.” This meaning reflects Jeremiah’s prophetic calling, as God appointed him before his birth to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). The name itself is a prophetic statement of God’s sovereignty and purpose in raising up His messengers.

Purpose of the Book:

The Book of Jeremiah serves as both a record of God’s judgment and His invitation to repentance. Written during a time of national decline in Judah (late 7th to early 6th century B.C.), its purpose is to:

Warn Judah of the coming Babylonian invasion as a consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness.
Call the people to repentance, offering them the hope of restoration if they return to God.
Explain the fall of Jerusalem and the exile as part of God’s sovereign plan.
Provide hope for the future, pointing toward a new covenant where God’s law would be written on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:31–34).

It is both a book of judgment and a book of hope—showing God’s justice in punishing sin and His mercy in promising restoration.

Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:

The prophet Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, is credited as the author of the book, with assistance from his scribe Baruch son of Neriah.

Biblical evidence for Jeremiah as the author includes:

Jeremiah 1:1–2 – Clearly identifies Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, as the prophet who received the words of the Lord.
Jeremiah 36:1–4 – God commands Jeremiah to dictate His words to Baruch, who writes them down on a scroll.
Jeremiah 36:32 – After King Jehoiakim burns the first scroll, Jeremiah dictates the same words again to Baruch, along with additional messages.
2 Chronicles 35:25 – Mentions Jeremiah writing laments for King Josiah.
Daniel 9:2 – Refers to “the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet” as authoritative Scripture, confirming early recognition of his writings.

External historical sources also support Jeremiah’s authorship:

The Babylonian Talmud (Baba Bathra 14b–15a) lists Jeremiah as the author of his prophetic book, the Book of Kings, and Lamentations.
Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 5) records Jeremiah as the prophet who warned of Jerusalem’s fall and wrote about it.
Ancient Septuagint manuscripts (Greek translation of the Old Testament, 3rd–2nd century B.C.) attribute the prophecies to Jeremiah, though in slightly different order than the Hebrew text.

Key People:

Jeremiah – The “weeping prophet,” called by God to warn Judah of coming judgment and to urge repentance.
Baruch son of Neriah – Jeremiah’s faithful scribe who recorded and preserved his messages.
King Josiah – The last godly king of Judah, under whom Jeremiah began his ministry.
King Jehoiakim – Rejected Jeremiah’s warnings and burned his prophetic scroll.
King Zedekiah – The last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile; vacillated between listening to Jeremiah and fearing his officials.
Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem and carried the people into exile.
Ebed-Melek – An Ethiopian court official who rescued Jeremiah from a cistern.
False prophets like Hananiah – Opposed Jeremiah’s message, promising peace when judgment was coming.

Conclusion

The Book of Jeremiah ends with the tragic reality of Jerusalem’s destruction and Judah’s exile to Babylon (chapters 39–52), fulfilling the very warnings Jeremiah proclaimed for decades. Yet, it is not a message of despair—it also points forward to God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. The prophecies of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34) and future restoration reveal God’s ultimate plan to redeem His people. Jeremiah’s ministry demonstrates that God’s word is unchanging, His justice is certain, and His mercy is always available to those who return to Him with a sincere heart. Even in judgment, God is working for the good of His people and the fulfillment of His redemptive purposes.

What is God's Name in these Chapters?

In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.

Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.

"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.

Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:

REVIEW GOD'S NAMES FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

Jeremiah 31

God’s character in Jeremiah 31 is revealed as one of everlasting love, mercy, and faithfulness. He assures His people that though they have faced discipline and exile, His heart toward them has never wavered. He describes Himself as a Father to Israel (Jeremiah 31:9), showing His tender compassion and protective care. God’s nature here emphasizes His desire to restore, to bring joy after mourning, and to rebuild what was broken.

In this chapter, one of the key Hebrew names revealed is Yahweh, the covenant-keeping LORD. His role as the eternal God is shown through His declaration of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34), which promises forgiveness and a personal relationship with Him written on the hearts of His people. This covenant highlights God’s mercy and grace, pointing to Christ as the fulfillment. The lesson God teaches is that His plans for His people are never finished by judgment but always lead to redemption, and we too can trust His faithfulness to restore us even after seasons of brokenness.

Jeremiah 32

In Jeremiah 32, God’s character is revealed as sovereign, all-powerful, and trustworthy. Even as Jerusalem is under siege, He shows that He has a plan beyond the destruction. Through the symbolic act of Jeremiah purchasing the field, God proves that He is a God of hope and restoration, one who secures the future of His people. He declares that “nothing is too hard” for Him (Jeremiah 32:17, 27), revealing His omnipotence and authority over all circumstances.

Though no distinct Hebrew names beyond Yahweh are directly highlighted, the chapter emphasizes His covenantal nature as the LORD who keeps His promises. The lesson God is teaching in this chapter is the importance of faith in His word, even when our circumstances look hopeless. Just as Jeremiah obeyed and purchased the land as a prophetic act, we are called to walk in obedience and trust, believing that God’s promises are greater than our present struggles.

Christ in Every Book of the Bible

Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.

The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!

Questions:

Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.

Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?

How does Jeremiah 31 reveal God as a loving Father, and what does this teach us about His heart toward His people?
In what ways does God’s everlasting love in Jeremiah 31 show His patience and mercy toward Israel?
How does God’s promise of a new covenant in Jeremiah 31 demonstrate His faithfulness to His people?
What does Jeremiah 32 teach us about God’s sovereignty when He declares that “nothing is too hard” for Him?
How does God’s character as a restorer shape how we view times of discipline or suffering in our lives?
In what ways does God’s instruction to Jeremiah to buy the field reveal His commitment to Israel’s future?
How do these chapters reveal God’s desire for personal relationship, not just outward obedience, with His people?

Questions About Themes:

What is the significance of God promising to turn mourning into joy in Jeremiah 31?
How does the theme of restoration connect to both the return from exile and the future hope found in Christ?
What does the “new covenant” in Jeremiah 31 reveal about the shift from external rituals to internal transformation?
How does Jeremiah 32 emphasize the theme of faith when Jeremiah obeys God’s command to buy the field?
What role does hope play in both chapters, even in the midst of suffering and captivity?
How do these chapters highlight the theme of God’s covenant faithfulness throughout Israel’s history?
Why is the contrast between judgment and restoration important in understanding the message of Jeremiah 31–32?

Reflective Application Questions:

In what areas of your life do you need to trust God’s everlasting love, even when circumstances seem uncertain?
How can you experience the joy and restoration God promises, even after seasons of loss or pain?
What does the promise of the new covenant mean for your daily walk with Christ today?
How do you respond when God calls you to act in faith, like Jeremiah purchasing the field, even if it seems illogical?
Where in your life do you need to remind yourself that “nothing is too hard for the Lord”?
How can you live in greater confidence that God is faithful to His promises, even when you can’t see immediate results?
What step of obedience can you take today to align yourself with God’s vision of restoration and hope?

These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.

Reference Guides:

Life Application Study Guide

A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler

The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans