I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Jeremiah 33-35.

    The first part of today’s passage describes the land of Judah and Israel (modern day Israel and Palestine) as desolate and underpopulated, not even animals lived there. Reading this reminded me of what that land was like in the 19th Century. Jeremiah prophesies that this desolate land will once more be filled with people. As I read that Jeremiah’s prophecy of the future (to him) prosperity of Israel I am reminded of Israel today, a nation which is one of the most prosperous in the world with cities bustling with people. I cannot help but think that Jeremiah’s prophecy is fulfilled, to a degree by Israel of today. Yet despite the ways in which modern Israel fulfills this prophecy there are elements which are not yet fulfilled (at least, not as I read the passage). Jeremiah also prophesied that Israel would be ruled over by a descendant of David. The traditional Christian interpretation is that Jesus is that descendant of David who will rule from David’s throne. I think that is true to some degree, but I also think that some of modern Israel’s political leaders have been descendants of David in a figurative sense (It is possible that they are David’s descendants in a literal sense as well, but I do not think we will ever be able to know that for sure).

    I was going to stop writing after I finished the previous paragraph but I felt that there was more that needed to be said. Later in today’s passage Jeremiah condemns the leaders of Jerusalem for going back on their plan to free their Hebrew slaves. I spoke about how modern day Israel looks like it may be the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy about God restoring Israel. However, the modern nation of Israel will only last as long as its leaders and people avoid the sins of the people of ancient Jerusalem. If they oppress their fellow Jews and the foreigners among them, God will once more overthrow the nation of Israel. One could argue that the way they treat the Arabs living among them is an example of the modern nation of Israel oppressing foreigners among them. I will not make that argument, but, while I have sometimes made the counter argument, I am not convinced that such is not the case either. When I have argued that the modern nation of Israel is not oppressing the Arabs among them it has been to show someone who was arguing that they were oppressing the Arabs that there are reasons to question that conclusion. I believe that those who live in Israel need to seriously consider that question.