A Voice Was Heard in Ramah (Jeremiah 31:15)

2022-07-11

Recall that when Herod was deceived by the wise men after they did not report on the whereabouts of the young Jesus, the evil king “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16). Herod did this because he wanted to eliminate a potential rival for power. But Matthew records that this is a fulfillment of what Jeremiah prophesied. Let us consider the context of this prophecy:

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border. (Jeremiah 31:15-17)

In that great tragedy, what does the Lord promise? “...they shall come again...” and “...thy children shall come again...” It is stated twice. This promise is in a chapter that is of great hope. The gathering of His people precedes the promise earlier in the chapter, and the confirmation of the new covenant is after the promise starting in Jeremiah 31:31. This is a passage of hope, not despair. Historically, this is exactly how it happened: The gathering of the people, Herod’s slaughter, and the inauguration of the new covenant in Jesus Christ. But don’t miss the embedded promise within the tragedy: Your children will come again.

Such was the hope of David when he said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14)