As I read these passages, I was struck by the fact they both begin with the phrase, “Behold, days are coming, declares the LORD when I will…” Behold is a bold word. It calls for attention and says, “Look at me. I’m going to do this thing.” It is not something you say unless you are sure you can do the thing that follows. It reminds me of when my children were small and they would say, “Mommy. Mommy. Watch this. Are you watching?” Then they would proceed to show me something new they had learned. Most of the time, I had already seen them practicing, but they didn’t call for my attention until they were sure they could demonstrate their skills impressively. Of course in these passages, it is not God who needs the practice but the people. God had made a covenant with the people that depended in part upon their obedience, and they had failed, and they were dealing with the consequences of their failure. But God tells them this new covenant is different. The outcome only depends on God. The people don’t need to do anything but watch Him. Look at all the things He says will happen. The people will know God. He will be their God and they will be His people. He will forgive their wrongdoing. He will no longer remember their sins. He will execute justice and righteousness on the earth. For a people who were suffering, I imagine Jeremiah’s words brought peace. It is hard now, but a time is coming when God will make it better. Jeremiah 52
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