Jeremiah 50:17-20 - God will forgive and pardon

In earlier verses, we saw a stirring of the hearts of God’s covenant people. Jeremiah 50:4-5 described those, both from Israel and Judah, who had a change of heart toward God. They sought after God with tears of repentance, looking for His direction. Willingly, they were returning to God, their covenant Lord and to Zion.

Calling Israel a scattered flock, Jeremiah 50:17-20 reveal how the covenant people of God fell prey to their enemies. Though Israel became two Kingdoms - the Northern Kingdom comprising ten tribes retained the name Israel, and the Southern Kingdom comprising two tribes came to be known as  Judah, God still discussed their history as one, He saw them as one scattered flock.

Referring to Assyria and Babylon as the two lions that had devoured His people, Jeremiah 50:17-20 discussed the devastation of Israel. They were destroyed by Assyria, which in turn was crushed by Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. The people of God from both Israel and Judah came under the dominion of Babylon. But in verse 18, God assured His people that just as He had destroyed Assyria, He would now do the same to Babylon. God was going to bring them back to their homeland. Like sheep, they would be restored to their homeland to gaze on His pasture. God was going to forgive and pardon them of all the sins they had committed against Him. No longer would their sin be held against them.

 

At the core of it all, God only has a good plan for His people. Just as He dealt with the flaws of Israel His people, He will also deal with ours before He restores us to His perfect plan. What a privilege! We are sheep of His pasture. Here what Psalm 103:9-14 say about Him.

He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,

In the light of what we know about Him, let us worship and serve only Him.