2. 8. I will surely save you Jeremiah 30:8-22 p. 727

4. Little People … Big Events  Devastation of the fires at Fort McMurray  In calamity we hold to the promises of God  Unhelpful to make simplistic cause-effect rationalizations  Hold on to what we do know … character of God, salvation  Jeremiah 30 - 33: “The Book of Consolation”

5. 1. Do not be Afraid  Spoken in anticipation of great disaster.  Written to be preserved for the future.  “I will surely save you” (v 10-11)  Fear comes at a number of levels:  Immediate fear for life and survival.  Bigger fear – God has given up on them … no rescue. Jeremiah says: “Do not fear” (v 10)Jeremiah says: “Do not fear” (v 10)

6. 1. Do not be Afraid...  The same comfort we all hold onto …  We have fallen into sin  God seems far away God will forgive. He will not give up on them/me.

7. 2. An Incurable Wound  Judah’s calamity is because of God’s discipline (v 11)  There is no-one to plead their cause, no remedy … (v 13) If I sin today, will God do the same to me?  The simple answer is “NO” (1 John 2:1-2)  In salvation history this is still in the future.  God was still forming a people.

8. 2. An Incurable Wound...  Had to learn the gravity of sin – idolatry, polytheism.  Worship YHWH alone  After return from exile never again enticed to false gods  Fiercely monotheistic from 5 th century onwards.  Critical for understanding Jesus rightly  In his goodness and holiness God wages war on sin.  It is an affront to “shalom” for everyone.

9. 3. Restored and Healed  “I will restore health to you …” v 17 Gets really interesting –  Restoration will entail actual, physical return (v 18)

10. 3. Restored and Healed...  Also relates to much more:  God will raise up a Davidic king (v 9)  He will rule over them, not a foreigner (v 21)  He will draw near to God & draw them near to God (v 22)  God will heal what is incurable (v 12, 17)  Powerful prophesies of the salvation to come!

11. Living It  The character of God:  Israel/Judah did terrible wrong … … God did not give up on them  His absolute intent is always rescue, healing, restoration.  Hope & Joy  No matter what trials we face, or how we fail God’s desire, purpose & delight is to bring salvation.