ESOCS Devotional 28 January 2026 – My People, My Promise
MEMORY VERSE: “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” Jeremiah 31:1
TEXT: JEREMIAH 31:1–17
“At the same time,” says the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”
2 Thus says the Lord:
“The people who survived the sword
Found grace in the wilderness—
Israel, when I went to give him rest.”
3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
4 Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
You shall again be adorned with your tambourines,
And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
5 You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria;
The planters shall plant and eat them as ordinary food.
6 For there shall be a day
When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim,
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
To the Lord our God.’ ”
7 For thus says the Lord:
“Sing with gladness for Jacob,
And shout among the chief of the nations;
Proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘O Lord, save Your people,
The remnant of Israel!’
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country,
And gather them from the ends of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child
And the one who labors with child, together;
A great throng shall return there.
9 They shall come with weeping,
And with supplications I will lead them.
I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters,
In a straight way in which they shall not stumble;
For I am a Father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My firstborn.
10 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
And declare it in the [c]isles afar off, and say,
‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’
11 For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,
Streaming to the goodness of the Lord—
For wheat and new wine and oil,
For the young of the flock and the herd;
Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden,
And they shall sorrow no more at all.
13 “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together;
For I will turn their mourning to joy,
Will comfort them,
And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.
14 I will [d]satiate the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”
15 Thus says the Lord:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.”
16 Thus says the Lord:
“Refrain your voice from weeping,
And your eyes from tears;
For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord,
And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17 There is hope in your future, says the Lord,
That your children shall come back to their own border.
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Jeremiah 31:1 is a tender declaration of God’s unwavering covenant love. Spoken during a time when the people of Israel were facing judgment and exile, this promise cuts through despair with a word of hope: “They will be my people, and I will be their God.”
This verse is a reminder that God’s promises are not cancelled by our failures. His covenant is anchored not in our perfection but in His steadfast love. The phrase “My people” reflects intimacy, identity, and belonging. It’s not merely a label, it’s a relationship. God wasn’t giving up on Israel, even though they had broken the covenant repeatedly. Instead, He was planning restoration. And this restoration was not just political or territorial; it was deeply spiritual and relational.
A promise rooted in covenant love:
God’s declaration echoes His covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17:7: “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants… to be your God.” This promise wasn’t voided by rebellion or exile. Even in judgment, God was preparing a way back. Jeremiah 31 marks the beginning of what is often called the “Book of Consolation” (Jeremiah 30–33), where God speaks of healing, forgiveness, and a new covenant. Jeremiah 31:3 declares, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” God’s faithfulness extends beyond human weakness.
God claims us as His own:
To be called “My people” is the highest honour. It means we are known, chosen, and cared for by the King of kings. In 1 Peter 2:9–10, Peter writes to believers: “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God… once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Through Jesus, Gentiles and Jews alike are brought into this promise.
The fulfilment in Christ:
This prophetic word finds its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 31:31, God speaks of a new covenant not written on tablets of stone, but on the hearts of people. This new covenant, sealed by Christ’s blood, allows all who believe to enter into relationship with God. Hebrews 8:10 quotes this very chapter: “I will be their God, and they will be my people.” This is our identity in Christ – loved, redeemed, and forever His.
Reflections
- Do you live with the confidence that you are part of God’s people?
- Do you trust in His promises, even when your circumstances suggest otherwise?
- Remember: God’s promises are not tied to your performance; they are grounded in His character. You are His, not by merit, but by mercy.
Prayer
- Heavenly Father, thank you that I belong to you. Thank you for calling me “My people” and for being my faithful God. Help me live with confidence in your promises and rest in the security of your covenant love. May I always remember that your Word stands, even in the midst of trials, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Further Reading: Jeremiah 31:5-17; Matthew 18:1-10; 1 John 5:1-12
ESOCS Devotional 28 January 2026
