The Everlasting Love of Jehovah, vv. 1-9
A. The Reverence/Wonder of God’s Love
1. Our unworthiness: God is holy and delights in holiness. Why should He love sinful, rebellious men?
2. Our indifference: Love expects love in return. Yet, men have treated God’s love with contempt.
3. Our unfaithfulness: Love also expects fidelity. Unfaithfulness is a legal reason for divorce. It is a marvel that God should pursue unfaithful men with an everlasting love.
B. The Reasons for God’s Love
1. God’s nature: God is love.
2. God’s relationship: God is our Father.
C. The Results of God’s Love
The Gathering Grace of Jehovah, vv. 9-30
A. The Grace of Scattering
1. Hebrew word zarah = scattering seed or winnowing wheat
2. The sower scatters seed in expectation of a harvest.
3. The winnower winnows to separate the chaff from the wheat.
4. See Leviticus 26:33ff (33, 44-45) and verses 15-17.
B. The Grace of Gathering, Romans 8:35-39 (God gathers when Israel repents.)
The Hebrew word translated “ransomed” is the same word translated in Ruth as Kinsman Redeemer. The goel, or Kinsman-Redeemer, is a beautiful type of Christ.
(1) The kinsman redemption was of persons, and an inheritance Lev_25:48; Lev_25:25; Gal_4:5; Eph_1:7; Eph_1:11; Eph_1:14
(2) The Redeemer must be a kinsman Lev_25:48; Lev_25:49; Rth_3:12; Rth_3:13; Gal_4:4; Heb_2:14; Heb_2:15.
(3) The Redeemer must be able to redeem Rth_4:4-6; Jer_50:34; Joh_10:11; Joh_10:18
(4) Redemption is effected by the goel paying the just demand in full Lev_25:27; 1Pe_1:18; 1Pe_1:19; Gal_3:13. (See Scofield on Exo_14:30; Rom_3:24).
C. The Grace of Rejoicing, vv. 12-14
The Indwelling Presence of Jehovah, vv. 31-40
A. The Contrast of the Old and New Covenants
1. OT engraved in stone; NT engraved in humble hearts.
2. OT promised an earthly inheritance; NT promised an eternal heavenly inheritance.
3. OT sign was circumcision; NT sign is a repentant heart.
4. OT demanded obedience; NT demands faith.
5. OT characterized by external law; NT characterize by the gift of the Spirit.
B. The Result of the New Covenant
1. Forgiveness, v. 34
2. Forgottenness, v. 34
C. Restored Jerusalem made holy, v. 40.