While Israel was in exile, the land would receive its Sabbath rests and be able to restore its nutrients after years of cultivation. God loved the promised land and would restore it, preparing it for his people’s return. They would once again dwell in the land as his holy people, with humbled hearts.

Verses 36-39 describe how anxious and fragile the people remaining in the land would become. They would be filled with despair, lose their strength, and tremble at even the slightest blowing of the wind. Without the Lord’s blessing, people can lose everything, even while living in the promised land.

Verses 40-46 describe how the Lord would restore his people if they repented. He would remember his covenant with the patriarchs of faith—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and bring his people back to the promised land. Even while they were living in the land of their enemies, God would not completely reject them because of his faithfulness to the covenant promises he had made to their ancestors. God would send his own Son as the promised Messiah who would die as a curse on the cross in our place. Only faith in Jesus can set us free from the curse of sin, not our own obedience.
Application: Father, thank you for your great faithfulness in spite of our rebellion. Thank you for remembering your promises to us when we repent.
One Word: Repent and be restored to the Lord who is faithful to his promises