July 12

Introduction

Jeremiah 31:15–22: Today’s reading is a haunting and beautiful poem that begins with a reference to Rachel crying for her children. Rachel was one of Jacob’s wives, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, and the grandmother of Joseph’s son Ephraim. The name Ephraim is often used to refer to the entire Northern Kingdom because it was the largest tribe. Rachel was buried near Ramah, a village north of Jerusalem, now known as Bethlehem (see Genesis 35:16–21). As a grieving mother, she symbolizes a nation that has lost her children; but God offers words of comfort and hope, with the assurance that all the nation’s children will return home.

Today’s Key Verse: Jeremiah 31:20

[The LORD says:] “Israel, you are my dearest child, the one I love best. Whenever I mention your name, I think of you with love. My heart goes out to you; I will be merciful.”

Reading

¹⁵ The Lord says,

“A sound is heard in Ramah,
    the sound of bitter weeping.
Rachel is crying for her children;
    they are gone,
    and she refuses to be comforted.
¹⁶ Stop your crying
    and wipe away your tears.
All that you have done for your children
    will not go unrewarded;
    they will return from the enemy’s land.
¹⁷ There is hope for your future;
    your children will come back home.
    I, the Lord, have spoken.

¹⁸ “I hear the people of Israel say in grief,
‘Lord, we were like an untamed animal,
    but you taught us to obey.
Bring us back;
    we are ready to return to you,
    the Lord our God.
¹⁹ We turned away from you,
    but soon we wanted to return.
After you had punished us,
    we hung our heads in grief.
We were ashamed and disgraced
    because we sinned when we were young.’

²⁰ “Israel, you are my dearest child,
    the one I love best.
Whenever I mention your name,
    I think of you with love.
My heart goes out to you;
    I will be merciful.
²¹ Set up signs and mark the road;
    find again the way by which you left.
Come back, people of Israel,
    come home to the towns you left.
²² How long will you hesitate, faithless people?
I have created something new and different,
    as different as a woman protecting a man.”

Reflect

What words of comfort and hope does the LORD offer (verses 16–17)? What do the people of Israel confess (verses 18–19)? What is the LORD’s response (verses 20–22)? In what ways have you experienced God’s mercy?

Pray

God of love and mercy, in you I place my hope and trust. Keep me close to you as I seek to follow your teachings and serve you faithfully. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Jeremiah 31:23–40: The prophet Jeremiah describes God’s new covenant with the people.