In the overwhelming, hair-raising, and the all too often depressing prophecies of God’s (weeping) Prophet Jeremiah, God repeatedly told his people he would destroy them for their obstinate and hardened hearts. Yet in the middle of these all powerful and scorching warnings, God also slips in passages that roar, that soar, that shouts out with God’s hope and grace, refreshment and satisfaction.
Can you think of anything more reassuring, more spiritually refreshing than God’s promise to “refresh the weary and (to) satisfy the faint”? For seventy years, that’s all Israel had — God’s promise. But when God’s time came, God “showed up!” made good on his word. I believe he will do the same for us all!
Jeremiah 31:25 Authorized (King James) Version
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Jeremiah 31:25 Holman Christian Standard Bible
25 for I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.”
Jeremiah 31:25 New Living Translation
25 For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”
Jeremiah 31:25 Young’s Literal Translation
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, And every grieved soul I have filled.’
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
Do you feel drained or spiritually empty? You know you’re saved, but you’re “bone weary and “soul tired” and discouraged with no perceived end to that continual state of weariness. What do we do when we want to serve the Lord with all of your heart, with all of your soul and all of your mind and with all of your strength, to just energetically live for only Him, but we’re weary and feel like there’s nothing left for us to give? The Word of God for the Children of God comes into remembrance, answers our question. In Jeremiah 31:25, God says,
I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.
The only one who can truly satisfy our weary souls is the one who created them.
In chapter 31 of Jeremiah, Israel is promised refreshment and restoration and satisfaction. Even wandering in the wilderness, Israel experienced God’s grace.
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” verse 3
With everlasting love, God draws us to Him. He can give our weary souls rest, and hope but only if we listen, come to Him. Verse 25 says I have replenished every sorrowful soul as if it is already done. All we ever need do is to accept.
God has promised to heal our sun-parched and cracked lips, fill the cracks in our “dehydrated” hearts and lives with His goodness. Nothing can satiate us the way God’s love can. No amount of money, fame, or relationship can. Only God.
Every hunger and longing we have that the world cannot fix, God can.
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish. Jeremiah 31:25 ESV
Looking up key words in a passage can help bring new meaning to the verse.
Satisfy – fulfill desire, expectation, need; to put an end to
Languishing – (languish) lacking in spirit or interest; indifferent
Replenish – to make full or complete again; to supply with fresh fuel
Using these definitions, reading and re-reading, studying, praying this Word of God, we can surely see how this verse comes alive with new meaning and depth.
For I will put an end to the weary soul and to every indifferent lacking soul I will supply fresh fuel.
The Septuagint, ancient Greek translation, reads thirsty and hungry rather than weary and sorrowful.
The LORD is our refresher!
Master Rabbi Jesus echoes this in his Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:3-6.
Are we poor in spirit? Are we indeed mourning? Are we hungry and thirsty for righteousness? If so, we can go to the ever-flowing river of Life in the LORD. We can drink deeply of His Word and Spirit. We can be refreshed, and our energy renewed to do what calling He places into our hearts. What a joy. What a God!
Reflect
God will supply with fresh fuel – a fresh word – when we are weary and worn down. He will fill us! He will satisfy us completely, so we will lack for nothing.
Relate
Spending time with His Word is the way God will speak and fulfill a dry and worn-out spirit. We must discipline ourselves, make spending time with His word our highest priority. Continually dwelling in His Word and presence will help us prevent our souls being depleted and working inside our own strength.
WOW! So incredibly powerful!
AWESOME! So incredibly inspiring!
FINALLY! So hopeful, so hope-filled, so absolutely refreshing and satisfying!
In the name of God, The Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us refresh our souls through prayer,
Great Shepherd, I am bone tired and soul weary. Please refresh my Spirit and my body. Please help me find satisfaction in the abundance you have already so graciously shared with me. To you belongs all glory, honor, strength and power. I joyously submit my whole and entire self in faith, in hope, waiting for the rest and satisfaction you have promised. In Jesus’ name I pray. Alleluia! Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 