COMMENTARY

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Yahweh promises to rebuild the nation of Israel. God's word is one of hope through restoration of the exiles to their homeland. Previously Jeremiah had the unpleasant task of giving God's word as a message of doom, destruction, and exile. Now, God has him give a message for the period after the Babylonian captivity. Through Jeremiah, God has a word of hope by promising the gathering and returning the exiles to Zion.

Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14,15-19a
In Christ God blessed us with spiritual blessings and made us sons and daughters through grace, and Paul prays that his people may have wisdom. Verses 3-6 deal with praise to God for spiritual blessings which come with the gift of the Spirit. From eternity we are destined to be sons and daughters of G…