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at were recorded in the Scriptures had created within his heart a firm conviction that the Lord purposed to restore to the children of the captivity their ancient possession of the Land of Promise。 With the eye of faith Jeremiah saw the exiles returning at the end of the years of affliction and reoccupying the land of their fathers。 Through the purchase of the Anathoth estate he would do what he could to inspire others with the hope that brought so much comfort to his own heart。
Having signed the deeds of transfer and secured the countersignatures of witnesses； Jeremiah charged Baruch his secretary： 〃Take these evidences； this evidence of the purchase； both which is sealed； and this evidence which is open； and put them in an earthen vessel； that they may continue many days。 For thus saith the Lord of hosts； the God of Israel； Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land。〃 Jeremiah 32：14； 15。
So discouraging was the outlook for Judah at the time of this extraordinary transaction that immediately after perfecting the details of the purchase and arranging for
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the preservation of the written records； the faith of Jeremiah； unshaken though it had been； was now sorely tried。 Had he； in his endeavor to encourage Judah； acted presumptuously？ In his desire to establish confidence in the promises of God's word； had he given ground for false hope？ Those who had entered into covenant relationship with God had long since scorned the provisions made in their behalf。 Could the promises to the chosen nation ever meet with complete fulfillment？
Perplexed in spirit； bowed down with sorrow over the sufferings of those who had refused to repent of their sins； the prophet appealed to God for further enlightenment concerning the divine purpose for mankind。
〃Ah Lord God！〃 he prayed； 〃behold； Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched…out arm； and there is nothing too hard for Thee： Thou showest loving…kindness unto thousands； and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them： the great； the mighty God； the Lord of hosts； is His name； great in counsel； and mighty in work： for Thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men： to give everyone according to his ways； and according to the fruit of his doings： which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt； even unto this day； and in Israel； and among other men； and hast made Thee a name； as at this day； and hast brought forth Thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs； and with wonders； and with a strong hand； and with a stretched…out arm； and with great terror； and hast given them this land； which Thou didst swear to their fathers to give them； a land flowing with milk and
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honey； and they came in； and possessed it； but they obeyed not Thy voice； neither walked in Thy law； they have done nothing of all that Thou commandedst them to do： therefore Thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them。〃 Verses 17…23。
Nebuchadnezzar's armies were about to take the walls of Zion by storm。 Thousands were perishing in a last desperate defense of the city。 Many thousands more were dying of hunger and disease。 The fate of Jerusalem was already sealed。 The besieging towers of the enemy's forces were already overlooking the walls。 〃Behold the mounts；〃 the prophet continued in his prayer to God； 〃they are come unto the city to take it； and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans； that fight against it； because of the sword； and of the famine； and of the pestilence： and what Thou hast spoken is come to pass； and； behold； Thou seest it。 And Thou hast said unto me； O Lord God； Buy thee the field for money； and take witnesses； for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans。〃 Verses 24； 25。
The prayer of the prophet was graciously answered。 〃The word of the Lord unto Jeremiah〃 in that hour of distress； when the faith of the messenger of truth was being tried as by fire； was： 〃Behold； I am the Lord； the God of all flesh： is there anything too hard for Me？〃 Verses 26； 27。 The city was soon to fall into the hand of the Chaldeans； its gates and palaces were to be set on fire and burned； but； notwithstanding the fact that destruction was imminent and the inhabitants of Jerusalem were to be carried away captive； nevertheless the eternal purpose of Jehovah for Israel was yet to be fulfilled。 In further answer to the prayer
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of His servant； the Lord declared concerning those upon whom His chastisements were falling：
〃Behold； I will gather them out of all countries； whither I have driven them in Mine anger； and in My fury； and in great wrath； and I will bring them again unto this place； and I will cause them to dwell safely： and they shall be My people； and I will be their God： and I will give them one heart； and one way； that they may fear Me forever； for the good of them； and of their children after them： and I will make an everlasting covenant with them； that I will not turn away from them； to do them good； but I will put My fear in their hearts； that they shall not depart from Me。 Yea； I will rejoice over them to do them good； and I will plant them in this land assuredly with My whole heart and with My whole soul。
〃For thus saith the Lord； Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people； so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them。 And fields shall be bought in this land； whereof ye say； It is desolate without man or beast； it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans。 Men shall buy fields for money； and subscribe evidences； and seal them； and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin； and in the places about Jerusalem； and in the cities of Judah； and in the cities of the mountains； and in the cities of the valley； and in the cities of the south： for I will cause their captivity to return； saith the Lord。〃 Verses 37…44。
In confirmation of these assurances of deliverance and restoration； 〃the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time； while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison； saying；
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〃Thus saith the Lord the Maker thereof； the Lord that formed it； to establish it； the Lord is His name； Call unto Me； and I will answer thee； and show thee great and mighty things； which thou knowest not。 For thus saith the Lord； the God of Israel； concerning the houses of this city； and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah； which are thrown down by the mounts； and by the sword； 。 。 。 Behold； I will bring it health and cure； and I will cure them； and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth。 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return； and will build them； as at the first。 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity； whereby they have sinned against Me； and I will pardon all their iniquities。 。 。 。 And it shall be to Me a name of joy； a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth； which shall hear all the good that I do unto them： and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it。
〃Thus saith the Lord； Again there shall be heard in this place； which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast； even in the cities of Judah； and in the streets of Jerusalem； 。 。 。 the voice of joy； and the voice of gladness； the voice of the bridegroom； and the voice of the bride； the voice of them that shall say； Praise the Lord of hosts： for the Lord is good； for His mercy endureth forever： and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord。 For I will cause to return the captivity of the land； as at the first； saith the Lord。
〃Thus saith the Lord of hosts； Again in this place； which is desolate without man and without beast； and in all the
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cities thereof； shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down。 In the cities of the mountains； and in the cities of the vale； and in the cities of the south； and in the land of Benjamin； and in the places about Jerusalem； and in the cities of Judah； shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them； saith the Lord。
〃Behold； the days come； saith the Lord； that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah。〃 Jeremiah 33：1…14。
Thus was the church of God comforted in one of the darkest hours of her long conflict with the forces of evil。 Satan had seemingly triumphed in his efforts to destroy Israel； but the Lord was overruling the events of the present； and during the years that were to follow； His people were to have opportunity to redeem the past。 His message to the church was：
〃Fear thou not； O My servant Jacob； 。 。 。 neither be dismayed； O Israel： for； lo； I will save thee from afar； and thy seed from the land of their captivity； and Jacob shall return； and shall be in rest； and be quiet； and none shall make him afraid。 For I am with thee； saith the Lord； to save thee。〃 〃I will restore health unto thee； and I will heal thee of thy wounds。〃 Jeremiah 30：10； 11； 17。
In the glad