Jeremiah Buys Land for Future Use

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase, and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time.’ For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’ “ (Jeremiah 32:14-15. NASB. Read Jeremiah 32)

The prophet Jeremiah often did in his life that which was symbolic of God’s providence and watchcare of the people. Jeremiah bought a portion of land when the nation of Judah was under siege from Nebuchadnezzar and the forces of Babylon. In the midst of trouble, Jeremiah demonstrated his trust in God’s leadership to restore the nation by buying land, having the deeds legally drawn, and storing them in a safe place. God would keep His promises to the nation. In the future, the people would again live in safety in their promised land. Jeremiah’s action indicated his faith that God would fulfill his purpose in restoring the scattered and persecuted nation.

In historic perspective, Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry in the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign in the nation of Judah, about 626 B. C. He continued his prophesying until after he was forcibly taken to Egypt about 584 B.C. He began his ministry before good King Josiah’s reform recorded in 2 Kings 23. Jeremiah was often under attack because of his message, one of judgment on Judah because of their unfaithfulness to God. In fact, the first writings by Baruch, his scribe, were burned, piece by piece, by King Jehoiakim. Jeremiah dictated the message, anew and enlarged, and Baruch wrote the message again. Despite efforts to eradicate Jeremiah’s important message, it prevailed and we have the second longest book in the Bible next to Psalms, filled with visions, prophecies, autobiographical sketches, predictions about foreign nations, and important history of God’s work among the nation of Judah and its enemies. And in the midst of trouble came Jeremiah’s act of hope: the purchase of land that might be used in the period of restoration.

In this action of Jeremiah, and, indeed, throughout the prophecies of this faithful servant, we learn that God is sovereign over His covenant people and over individuals. God is faithful to His people and is always calling them back into fellowship with Him. The new covenant God made with his people is a clarion cry of Jeremiah’s message: “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33b, 34b. NIV) God stands ready to restore and forgive but we must make the move toward him: “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, August 23, 2010