Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Jeremiah 31:38 (NIV)
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.”
Jeremiah 31:38 (MSG)
“The time is coming”—it’s God’s Decree—“when God’s city will be rebuilt, rebuilt all the way from the Citadel of Hanamel to the Corner Gate.”
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“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when the city [of Jerusalem] will be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.” -AMPLIFIED
“Since a literal nation must have an actual geographical location in which to reside, it is now revealed that the capital, Jerusalem, will be rebuilt and expanded — yes, the very city that Jeremiah was before long to see destroyed by the Chaldean army.” ~John Feinberg
We have been reminded that God never gives up on us, just as He has never given up on Israel.
“This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below explored, will I reject all of Israel’s descendants because of all they have done—this is the Lord’s declaration.” -Jeremiah 31:37 (CSB)
We now find the Lord declaring that in the days ahead, because He has not rejected Israel’s descendants, He would rebuild Jerusalem for His glory.
Eternal One: “Look! The days are coming when I will rebuild Jerusalem for My own purpose and glory—from the tower of Hananel to the corner gate.” -(VOICE)
We find the Lord reaffirming once again something that He said back in verse 4. There He told Israel:
“And so it shall be again, My virgin Israel; I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt. You will again take up the tambourine and join with those who are dancing for joy.” -Jeremiah 31:4 (VOICE)
God will personally rebuild Jerusalem. And the city, and the people who lived in it will also be rebuilt.
As we see in today’s text, and we will see in the final verses of chapter 31, dimensions are given for this new, rebuilt city. “The Lord says, “The days are coming when Jerusalem will be rebuilt for me. Everything from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate will be rebuilt. The measuring line will stretch from the Corner Gate straight to the hill of Gareb. Then it will turn to the place named Goah. There is the whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown. It will be holy to the Lord. And all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley will be included. They are on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate. All that area will be holy to the Lord. The city of Jerusalem will never again be torn down or destroyed.” -Jeremiah 31:38-40 (ICB)
Another indication that God’s love for Israel never quits. He will rebuild Jerusalem bigger and better than ever.
“For the time is coming, says the Lord, when all Jerusalem shall be rebuilt for the Lord, from the tower of Hananel at the northeast corner…” -(TLB)
“The main point of these verses is that Jerusalem, when rebuilt, shall be altogether “the Lord’s.” Its circumference shall even be extended with the single object of including spots at present unclean, but then to become holy like the rest of the city.” ~Pulpit Commentary
What does Scripture tell us about this rebuilt Jerusalem that will come about in the latter days?
- The city will be rebuilt, brand new. “I looked again and could hardly believe my eyes. Everything above me was new. Everything below me was new. Everything around me was new because the heaven and earth that had been passed away, and the sea was gone, completely. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride on her wedding day, adorned for her husband and for His eyes only.” -Revelation 21:1-2 (VOICE)
- It is a city of joy. “Now look here! I am creating new heavens and a new earth. The weary and painful past will be as if it never happened. No one will talk or even think about it anymore. So take joy and celebrate with unending gladness on account of what I am creating. Look carefully! I am making this place I’ve chosen, this Jerusalem, a city of joy. I’m making her citizens, My people, a people of gladness. This Jerusalem, My pride and joy, and her people will be a delight to Me. Though you listen at every corner, you will never hear crying, never hear despair or grief.” -Isaiah 65:17-19 (VOICE)
- It will be a pure city. “On that day, every aspect of the land will be ritually pure. Engraved on the bells worn by horses will be the same phrase on the high priest’s turban: “Sacred to the Eternal One.” The cooking pots used in the house of the Eternal will be as sacred as those collection bowls used at the altar. In fact every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be treated as sacred to the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, so that anyone who offers a sacrifice may borrow them and use them to boil the meat of the sacrifice. In that day, no merchant will be found in the temple of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.” -Zechariah 14:20-21 (VOICE)
- It will be a holy city. “The valley of Ben-hinnom where the dead bodies and ashes from the sacrifices were thrown, and all the terraced fields leading out to the Kidron Valley, and as far east as the corner of the horse gate—all of these most defiled and polluted areas will again be made holy to the Eternal. The city will never again be uprooted or destroyed.” -Jeremiah 31:40 (VOICE)
- The city will be reigned by the Lord’s justice. “The day of the Lord will come unexpectedly like a thief in the night; and on that day, the sky will vanish with a roar, the elements will melt with intense heat, and the earth and all the works done on it will be seen as they truly are. Knowing that one day all this will come to pass, think what sort of people you ought to be—how you should be living faithful and godly lives, waiting hopefully for and hastening the coming of God’s day when the heavens will vanish in flames and the elements melt away with intense heat. What will happen next, and what we hope for, is what God promised: a new heaven and a new earth where justice reigns.” -2 Peter 3:10-13 (VOICE)
- It will be a very large and beautiful city. “My guide held a golden measuring rod. With it he measured the city and the gates and the walls. And the city is laid out with four corners in a perfect square, the length the same as its width. He measured the city with his measuring rod, and the result was that its length and width and height are equal: 1,444 miles, a perfect cube. And my guide measured the wall; it was nearly 72 yards high, in human measurements, which was the instrument the guide was using. The wall was made of jasper, while the city itself was made of pure gold, yet it was as clear as glass. The foundation stones of the wall of the city were decorated with every kind of jewel: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate expertly crafted from a single beautiful pearl. And the city street was pure gold, yet it was as transparent as glass.” -Revelation 21:15-21 (VOICE)
“The New Jerusalem isn’t just a happy place for the deceased to kick back in for all eternity: it’s actually the culmination of a theme that runs through the whole of Scripture, from the very beginning to the very end: the construction of the city of God.” ~Jeffrey Kranz
My friend, are you looking forward with expectation to the New Jerusalem? That city that the Lord will rebuild, new, holy, and pure. It will be filled with joy and the Lord’s justice. It will be huge, and so beautiful. But most importantly, we will dwell there with our Lord and Savior forevermore. I hope you are looking forward to that place as much as I am.
“After God makes a new heaven and new earth, then the city of the new Jerusalem will come down from heaven. Its glorious description is given to us in Scripture. Although it will be a city of incomparable beauty, the greatest thing about it is that the Lord will dwell there with His people.” ~Don Stewart
My Prayer:
Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, your Word encourages me to be looking forward to an eternity with you. I admit, there are times that I have taken my eyes off of the goal, and have become distracted by the things of this world. Please forgive me. Help me to remember that I am just a pilgrim passing through this place. This world is not my home. Please help me to keep my priorities in the right order. Thank you, Lord.
“I am sprinting toward the only goal that counts: to cross the line, to win the prize, and to hear God’s call to resurrection life found exclusively in Jesus the Anointed.” -Philippians 3:14 (VOICE)
Growing with God 