Jeremiah 31:31-34; 32:38-41, A Prayer for Abundant Hope (2)

We are reviewing the OT promises of the New Covenant to Israel.

·       Jer. 31:31-34: This is the most detailed statement of this promise of God, and is thus quoted verbatim in Heb. 8 in the teaching on the New Covenant.  God promised something different than the Mosaic Covenant.  It would mean God’s law was written on their hearts (instead of stone), that Israel would know God deeply, and that they would experience the God/people relationship God always desired.  The promise would of necessity be based on the forgiveness of the sins of the people.  The promises would for the most part be fulfilled through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; the forgiveness would be provided through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection.  Jeremiah 32:38-41 speaks of this covenant as resulting in Israel not only being in the land but experiencing the abundance of God’s goodness in the land.

·       Ezekiel 36:25-27: The process of bringing this about for Israel would involve cleansing (v25) and receiving a new spirit and heart (v26).  Again, this would be fulfilled by the indwelling Holy Spirit (v27).  The New Covenant would bring about the deep relationship with God and the blessing of the LORD being their God and they being His people (Ezek. 37:26-27).  Again, central to it all will be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ezek. 39:29).

Now note, to whom was this promise given?  It is to Israel!  God used some of the greatest OT prophets to declare this great hope for Israel.  They were telling them: “hard times are ahead; but after the great trials, God will complete His work in you through a new covenant.” 

Let us now return to our subject, which is a great prayer for hope in Rom. 15:13, a prayer Paul prayed for the Gentiles that dominated the church at Rome.  What is the hope for Gentiles in a covenant God promised to Israel?  How are the Gentiles helped if Jesus is servant to the Jews?  The answer is, that in every plan and purpose God had for Israel, it was His design that through the blessings on Israel blessings would come to the whole world.  This is fundamental to the Abrahamic Covenant.  In Gen. 12:1-3, besides promising Abraham a people and a great name and eventually a land, God also promised in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (v3).  Rom. 15:8 is not the end of the sentence.  Jesus, is the servant to the circumcision (Israel) that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.  Then Paul’s next words are, as it is written.  That is where the four OT quotes (15:9b-12) come in, calling Gentiles to praise God and promising them, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.  What God promised to Israel, is available to all.  And so he prays, that the God who is really good at “hope” will fill these believers so they can have an abundance of hope!  That is a great prayer!  (We are not finished; more tomorrow.)