New Life at the Arboretum
Exploring the Text: New life
Sometimes it seems like God’s promises are delayed, or even forgotten. I’m sure it felt that way to the Israelites as they waited for God’s promise of restoration. Jeremiah prophesied during one of Judah’s darkest times. Most of the people had turned away from God and Judah was under increasing pressure as God tried to convince them to turn back to him. About 30 years after Jeremiah started prophesying, Judah would fall to Babylon. Yet in the middle of all of this, God speaks through Jeremiah to share this message of hope. He promises a future restoration and new life to spring up where it seemed like there was only death and destruction. This promise is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the Branch from the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) who brings justice and righteousness.
Sometimes it seems like God’s promises are delayed, or even forgotten. We often feel like God has forgotten about us or, at best, delayed working on our behalf. Like Judah when Jeremiah was prophesying, we sometimes feel like there is very little hope that things will actually get better. But God has promised new life and, like Jeremiah’s promise to Judah, that promise is fulfilled in Jesus who brings justice and righteousness. While we may not see it yet, we know that one day Jesus will put all things back the way they are supposed to be and that his truth, justice, and righteousness will fill the whole earth.
Sometimes it seems like God’s promises are delayed, or even forgotten. I’m sure it felt that way to the Israelites as they waited for God’s promise of restoration. Jeremiah prophesied during one of Judah’s darkest times. Most of the people had turned away from God and Judah was under increasing pressure as God tried to convince them to turn back to him. About 30 years after Jeremiah started prophesying, Judah would fall to Babylon. Yet in the middle of all of this, God speaks through Jeremiah to share this message of hope. He promises a future restoration and new life to spring up where it seemed like there was only death and destruction. This promise is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the Branch from the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) who brings justice and righteousness.
Sometimes it seems like God’s promises are delayed, or even forgotten. We often feel like God has forgotten about us or, at best, delayed working on our behalf. Like Judah when Jeremiah was prophesying, we sometimes feel like there is very little hope that things will actually get better. But God has promised new life and, like Jeremiah’s promise to Judah, that promise is fulfilled in Jesus who brings justice and righteousness. While we may not see it yet, we know that one day Jesus will put all things back the way they are supposed to be and that his truth, justice, and righteousness will fill the whole earth.