God had destroyed and punished Jerusalem and the Israelites because of their sins. But God says, “Just as I had determined.” Just as God was determined to bring disaster on the unfaithful Israelites, now he is determined to do good again in Jerusalem and Judah.

Is it because of anything that Jerusalem did? No! There was nothing they did that deserved good from God. But it was one-sided grace from God to do good again in this land.

In times of God’s grace, what does God want us to do? Speak the truth to each other, render sound judgment in the courts and do not plot evil. When God is with Jerusalem again, people will cling to the Jews and want to go with them because they have God. When God is with Jerusalem again, it will no longer be a land of curse but a land of blessing.

Likewise, we have done nothing that deserved God’s blessing. Our sin makes us a byword of a curse. But through Jesus’ death on the cross, we no longer are a curse, but have become a blessing. In Jesus Christ, we can speak truth, render true judgment, and not plot evil.
Application: Thank you, Jesus, who makes us live a blessed life in you.
One Word: Jesus, Immanuel, God is with us