Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 30-31
Jeremiah 31:15
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
Rachel weeping for her children. Jeremiah heard her, but it is about ten centuries since Rachel walked on the earth. Did he hear her literally or is this figurative? We may never know, but one thing is certain, Matthew mentioned this prophecy in his gospel account saying: Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. (Matthew 2:17-18)
Rachel was the wife of Jacob, she birthed two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. It is interesting to note that Rama was a city in the part of the promise land that belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. It was located on the border between Judah and Israel. It was from there that Rachel lamented the depopulation of her sons. In Jeremiah’s day, her lament was indicative of Israel being taken captive and carried away to Babylon. In Matthew’s day the prophecy accompanied the murder of all the male Hebrew children from two years old and under in an effort to kill the baby Jesus.
Rachel’s lamentation is a backdrop to a bigger story in Jeremiah’s day. The theme of Jeremiah chapter 31 is the reunion of Israel and Judah, for since the death of Solomon these two kingdoms were divided. Rehoboam became the king of the Southern Kingdom which is also called Judah. It was made up of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Jeroboam was the first king of the Northern Kingdom, called Israel, comprising the other ten tribes. From 935 BC to 536 BC these two kingdoms were divided. Historically speaking, Judah was allowed to return to their land in 536 BC, after their 70 years in captivity to Babylon. Israel, the Northern Kingdom, the ten tribes, was subdued and carried away captive in 722 BC and the Bible contains no record of their return.
Now, here is a tidbit. The year 536 BC marks the beginning of the period of time commonly called “the times of the Gentiles.” This time began with the conquering of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (the king of the Chaldees) in 586 BC (II Chronicles 36:17-20). It will end at the Revelation of Jesus Christ and the battle of Armageddon as prophesied in Revelation 19:11-21.
Back to Jeremiah. In these chapters, 30 and 31, there is a contrast. One shade is Israel as being in captivity indicated by Rachel’s lament, this is a dark theme. The other shade is Israel and Judah being regathered and reestablished as one nation, which is a bright theme. Hence, Jeremiah 31:1 states: At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. This coming together as one nation pre-shadows the Kingdom age, the millennial reign of Christ. But before that day Rachel will be weeping from the grave. But her weeping will be turned to joy, just as Jeremiah predicts in 30:19-20. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
The practical point to ponder today is this: Believe your Bible for it is true, wholesome, and always right. To the serious student of God’s Word, the convoluted dates, prophecies, history, and teachings always prove to be correct. As someone once said, “The Bible is not a science book, but when it speaks of science it is accurate. It is not a history book, or a medical book, or a social studies book, or a math book, but when it speaks on these and all the other subjects it is accurate.”
Dr. William T. Howe
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