God’s New Covenant with Israel (7), Jeremiah 33:14-18; Hebrews 9:11-15

·        Jer. 33:14-18:

o   This passage takes us close to where we started our study of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-33).  The good thing the LORD mentions in v14 is the promised NC.  Earlier in Jer. 33 the LORD has spoken of the healing and cleansing of the nation and of the resulting joy and gladness.  These are consistent with what is promises in the NC.

o   What we now see in 33:15 is the connection between the NC and the ministry of Messiah.  The salvation and safety of God’s people comes when the Branch of righteousness occupies the Davidic throne (v17).  The Messiah is THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (v16).  And note that in that time when the Davidic King reigns, the priests and Levites will have a legitimate ministry involving offerings and sacrifices.  (We discussed the issue of sacrifices in the Messianic Kingdom in Days 1-4 of this booklet and in our blog on Saturdays in March 2017.)

o   This connection to Messiah should lead us to the New Testament because there we see the Lord Jesus Christ deeply connected to the NC.  Look at Luke 22:20 where Jesus’ words at the Passover with His disciples on the night He was betrayed declare clearly: This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  He said this to the Twelve, referring to His sacrifice by which God would forgive their iniquity (Jer. 31:34).  Jesus was telling them that what would happen hours from then, as He was on the cross, would be the event that would make the NC possible.

o   Consider Peter’s sermon on Pentecost in Acts 2.  He preaches Jesus as the Son of David and as both Lord and Christ.  He then calls the people, all of them Jewish of course, to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  If they do they will receive the promise of the Holy Spirit (v38), a promise made to you and your children and to all who are afar off.  We have seen that the promise of the Spirit is made in the NC.  The context of the feast and the presence of Jews from all over the world indicate that those who are afar off are the Jews of the dispersion.  That is the message of Acts 2.  Later Peter will preach to the Gentiles and will note then the connection of the offer to the nations with the NC (Acts 11:16).

o   Then we come to Hebrews 9:11-15.  In this letter the writer addresses people of Jewish background who are or at least seemed to be believers in Christ.  He is not denying the availability of the New Covenant to Gentiles (the nations) but he is stressing for Hebrews that faith in Christ is the only means by which they can enter into this promised relationship.  He, the Messiah, is the Mediator of that covenant by His once for all death.

As Paul noted in Romans 11:5, the faithful remnant of Israel is today tucked away in the Body of Christ, the Church.  As Paul also notes in the same passage, what a glorious day when the faithful of Israel, the Nation, are again grafted into the tree (11:23).  It will happen, all Israel saved, in the time when they no longer continue in unbelief but believe in their Messiah!