Here in the 31st Chapter of Jeremiah, the prophesy given to Jeremiah turns to a word concerning the Northern Kingdom, which is called in Scripture simply Israel or Ephraim.
At this point in Jeremiah’s life, the Northern Kingdom had been completely wiped out by the Assyrians. To have any hope for this nation was inconceivable. Yet, the Lord holds out hope for them and speaks words of hope.
Why did the Northern Kingdom of Israel fall? In the next chapter, Jeremiah is given the reason, not only for the people of Israel, but for the people of Judah as well. There was simply no room for the people of Judah to feel superior to their northern neighbors. First,
the people have turned their backs on the Lord, committing the sin of pride. Second, the people set up abominations – idols – in the houses reserved to the worship of God alone, including the Temple. (Jer. 32:34) Third, they have offered up their sons and daughters to
the god Molech, as infanticidal sacrifices. (Jer. 32:35) Idolatry, persistence in sin, and infanticide will always destroy a nation. They destroyed Israel and Judah, and they destroyed ancient Rome. But, here, the Lord does not speak of destruction. He speaks of the redemption of a remnant company, gathered from the “farthest parts of the earth.”
And among them, not surprisingly, are the blind and the lame, a pregnant woman and a woman in labor! This should not surprise us! The blind and the lame and the pregnant are signs of contradiction to idolatry and child-sacrifice. They remind us that we live in God’s
world and are beholden to him for all that comprises our lives. It should not surprise us that the blind and the lame, especially in the womb, are considered to be worthless.
Pregnant women are themselves signs of coming redemption. This was true in Isaiah, in which a pregnant woman, a virgin, is spoken of, bearing a son named Immanuel: “God is with us.” And it was supremely true, no doubt, in Mary who says:
51 “He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (Luke 1:51-55)
When we see pregnant women, we are naturally filled with hope. We are reminded that we live in God’s creation, a creation he will not forsake. We are reminded of the goodness of human life, human life for which he gave his only Son to be not only conceived in a womb, but born, crucified, and raised to newness of life that we too might
be raised in newness of life!