Day 287

Jeremiah 29:24-31:14, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, Psalm 119:33-40

Today throws up some words that we have seen in a good number of places through the Old Testament, yet words we have not really picked up on that much.

“You will be my people and I will be your God”

On the one sense, these words almost seem to trivial to pick on. He is our God, and we are the people of God. Bit of a no-brainer really. So why are they important words? Imagine what it was like, or would be like to imagine that God was not your God. We spoke yesterday about the fact that the people felt in exile from God, and there are indeed times when we can feel in exile from God.

In the middle of those times, there is not only that promise that God does not want to harm us, but that he will be our God for all time. We will be his people. Although we know God is everywhere, the people then thought he was just in the temple. This is the promise that he would once more be with them. It almost seems too simple, yet from the position of exile these words bring immense comfort.

For us it takes on the fulfilment of a prophecy. Through Christ we are reconciled (brought back to) God for all time and he is always our God. But just sometimes, it feels like there is a chasm between us, and in those times we can hear these words again:

“You will be my people and I will be your God”