"What's new?" is a common greeting. There are many answers people give: "A new car." "A new house." "A new boat." "A new suit ... a new dress ... a new coat."

Others focusing more on relationships than things answer: "A new boyfriend or girlfriend." "A new husband or wife." "A new friend."

Jeremiah, the prophet, focuses not so much on things of the earth or human relations but on a personal relationship with the eternal Lord, a new covenant with God. "The days are surely coming, says the Lord, When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31, italics mine).

Notice, the prophet says, "The days are coming...." In other words, something new is out there in the future. Something new and fresh is to be anticipated. Vision is needed to project a…