From this morning's reading. Jeremiah speaks of the New Covenant well before we get to chapter 31, as he reveals to the northern and southern kingdoms what will take place when He gives His people shepherds who will care for them, shepherds will skill and wisdom.
And the ark which contained the tablets of stone, which was still missing in Jeremiah's day, will not be thought of. For just as Paul wrote about the glory of the New over the Old (2 Cor 3:7-11), so was Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 3:14-17 Return, you faithless children” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “for I am your master, and I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds who are loyal to Me, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill. When you multiply and increase in the land, in those days” — the Lord’s declaration — “no one will say any longer, ‘The ark of the Lord’s covenant.’ It will never come to mind, and no one will remember or miss it. It will never again be made. At that time Jerusalem will be called, Yahweh’s Throne, and all the nations will be gathered to it, to the name of Yahweh in Jerusalem. They will cease to follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
Here's how Paul commented: 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stones, came with glory, so that the Israelites were not able to look directly at Moses’ face because of the glory from his face — a fading glory — how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows with even more glory. In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious now by comparison because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was fading away was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious.
If we have been raised up in new life in Christ, let us not return to to beggarly elements. Again, from Paul:
Galatians 4:9-11 But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You observe special days, months, seasons, and years.
Look unto Christ! For He is our help in every trial and He is our strength and wisdom and grace.
