Jeremiah 31:21
"Set up the roadmarks, establish the signposts. Keep the highway in mind, the road you have traveled. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to these cities of yours.
Set up the roadmarks
The Hebrew word for "roadmarks" is "צִיּוּן" (tsiyun), which can also mean a sign or a monument. In ancient times, roadmarks were essential for travelers to find their way, especially in the vast and often featureless landscapes of the Near East. Spiritually, this phrase calls believers to establish clear markers in their lives that guide them back to God’s path. It suggests intentionality in spiritual journeying, ensuring that one does not stray from the divine direction.

establish the signposts
The term "signposts" in Hebrew is "תַּמְרוּרִים" (tamrurim), which refers to guiding posts or indicators. Historically, these were crucial for navigation, much like modern-day road signs. In a spiritual sense, this phrase encourages the faithful to set up reminders of God’s promises and commandments, serving as constant guides in their daily walk with Him. It emphasizes the importance of having visible, tangible reminders of faith and commitment.

Keep the highway in mind
The "highway" here, "מְסִלָּה" (mesillah) in Hebrew, refers to a raised or prepared road, often used for royal or significant travel. This imagery suggests a path that is not only well-trodden but also elevated, symbolizing a life lived in accordance with God’s will. The call to "keep in mind" implies a conscious effort to remember and adhere to the righteous path, highlighting the importance of mindfulness in one’s spiritual journey.

the road you have traveled
This phrase invites reflection on past experiences and the journey of faith. The Hebrew word for "road" is "דֶּרֶךְ" (derekh), which can also mean a way of life or conduct. It encourages believers to consider their spiritual history, learn from past mistakes, and recognize the faithfulness of God throughout their journey. It is a call to remember the lessons learned and the divine guidance received along the way.

Return, O Virgin of Israel
The term "Virgin of Israel" is a poetic and affectionate reference to the nation of Israel, emphasizing purity and a special relationship with God. The call to "return" is "שׁוּבִי" (shubi) in Hebrew, a recurring theme in the prophetic books, urging repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness. This phrase underscores God’s enduring love and desire for His people to come back to Him, despite their past unfaithfulness.

return to these cities of yours
The repetition of "return" emphasizes the urgency and importance of coming back to a place of spiritual and physical restoration. "These cities" refers to the promised land, a symbol of God’s blessing and provision. Historically, this was a call for the exiled Israelites to return to their homeland. Spiritually, it represents a call to return to a place of divine favor and blessing, encouraging believers to seek restoration and renewal in their relationship with God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah.

2. Virgin of Israel
A poetic term referring to the nation of Israel, emphasizing purity and a call to return to God.

3. Roadmarks and Signposts
Metaphorical symbols representing guidance and direction for the Israelites to return to their homeland and God.

4. Highway
Symbolizes the path of return and repentance, both physically to the land and spiritually to God.

5. Cities of Israel
Represents the places of heritage and promise that the Israelites are called to return to.
Teaching Points
Guidance and Direction
Just as Israel was instructed to set up roadmarks, believers today are called to seek God's guidance and establish spiritual disciplines that keep them on the right path.

Call to Repentance
The call to "return" is a reminder of the importance of repentance and turning back to God when we stray.

Spiritual Heritage
Remembering the "cities" or spiritual heritage we have in Christ can encourage us to remain faithful and return to our spiritual roots.

Intentional Living
Keeping the "highway in mind" suggests living with intentionality and purpose, focusing on our journey with God.

Hope and Restoration
The promise of return signifies hope and restoration, reminding us that no matter how far we wander, God always welcomes us back.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some "roadmarks" or spiritual disciplines you can establish in your life to help you stay on the path God has set for you?

2. How does the concept of returning to God resonate with the New Testament teachings on repentance and forgiveness?

3. In what ways can you keep your spiritual "highway" clear and focused on Christ in your daily life?

4. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps did you take, or can you take, to return to Him?

5. How can the themes of hope and restoration in Jeremiah 31:21 encourage you in your current spiritual journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 35:8
This verse speaks of a "Highway of Holiness," which connects to the idea of a path of return and righteousness.

Hosea 14:1
Calls Israel to return to the Lord, similar to the call in Jeremiah 31:21.

Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates the theme of returning and being welcomed back, akin to Israel's call to return.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Encourages believers to keep their path clear and focused on Jesus, similar to setting up roadmarks and signposts.
A Pattern Prayer for the PenitentC. M. Hardy, B. A.Jeremiah 31:18-21
A Pleasant ChildW. F. Morgan, D. D.Jeremiah 31:18-21
Chastisement Resulting in PenitenceRobert Hall, M. A.Jeremiah 31:18-21
DisciplineJ. Parker, D. D.Jeremiah 31:18-21
Ephraim Bemoaning HimselfJeremiah 31:18-21
Ephraim Bemoaning Himself; Or, the Penitent's RestorationA.F. Muir Jeremiah 31:18-21
Evangelical RepentanceJ. Hill.Jeremiah 31:18-21
God's Tender Mercy to the PenitentDean Vaughan.Jeremiah 31:18-21
Mercy to PenitentsTJeremiah 31:18-21
Presumptuous Sins Call for Profound RepentanceBp. Sanderson.Jeremiah 31:18-21
RepentanceJ. Foot, D. D.Jeremiah 31:18-21
Repentant EphraimF. Whitfield, M. A.Jeremiah 31:18-21
Sanctified AfflictionJ. Thorburn.Jeremiah 31:18-21
Sin the Reproach and Shame of YouthJohn Guyse, D. D.Jeremiah 31:18-21
Spiritual Way-MarksJohn Jones.Jeremiah 31:18-21
The Cause and Design of AfflictionJ. Leifchild.Jeremiah 31:18-21
The Contrite ComfortedF. Storr, M. A.Jeremiah 31:18-21
The Cry of the PenitentW. Hay Aitken, M. A.Jeremiah 31:18-21
The Divine Mercy to Mourning PenitentsPresident Davies.Jeremiah 31:18-21
The Inner Side of ConversionJeremiah 31:18-21
The Picture of a True PenitentW. G. Lewis.Jeremiah 31:18-21
The Repentance of the Truly ConvertedCanon Jelf.Jeremiah 31:18-21
The Stubborn Sinner Submitting to GodE. Payson, D. D.Jeremiah 31:18-21
To the PenitentG. Brooks.Jeremiah 31:18-21
People
Gareb, Jacob, Jeremiah, Rachel, Rahel
Places
Corner Gate, Egypt, Gareb, Goah, Horse Gate, Kidron, Ramah, Samaria, Tower of Hananel, Zion
Topics
Attention, Cities, Consider, Direct, Guideposts, Guide-posts, Guiding, Heaps, Heart, Highway, High-way, Mind, Note, O, Pillars, Return, Road, Roadmarks, Signposts, Signs, Thyself, Towards, Towns, Turn, Virgin, Waymarks, Way-marks, Wentest
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 31:21

     5336   highway
     5505   roads

Jeremiah 31:21-22

     5674   daughters

Jeremiah 31:21-23

     5740   virgin

Library
What the Stable Creation Teaches
'If those ordinances depart from before Me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever.'--JER. xxxi. 36. This is the seal of the new covenant, which is to be made in days future to the prophet and his contemporaries, with the house of Israel and of Judah. That new covenant is referred to in Hebrews as the fundamental law of Christ's kingdom. Therefore we have the right to take to ourselves the promises which it contains, and to think of 'the house
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

What the Immense Creation Teaches
'If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.'--JER. xxxi. 37. In the former sermon we considered the previous verse as presenting the stability of creation as a guarantee of the firmness of God's gracious covenant. Now we have to consider these grand closing words which bring before us another aspect of the universe as a guarantee for another side of God's gracious
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

August the Twenty-First Satisfaction
"My people shall be satisfied with My goodness." --JEREMIAH xxxi. 10-14. And how unlike is all this to the feasts of the world! There is a great show, but no satisfaction. There is much decorative china, but no nutritious food or drink. "Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again." We rise from the table, and our deepest cravings are unappeased. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" We know. We have had a condiment, but no meat; a showy menu-card, but no reviving feast. Nothing but
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

God in the Covenant
But I have been thinking for the last two or three days, that the covenant of grace excels the other covenant most marvelously in the mighty blessings which it confers. What does the covenant of grace convey? I had thought this morning of preaching a sermon upon "The covenant of grace; what are the blessings it gives to God's children?" But when I began to think of it, there was so much in the covenant, that if I had only read a catalogue of the great and glorious blessings, wrapped up within its
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

The Two Covenants: their Relation
"It is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondmaid, and one by the freewoman. Howbeit, the one by the bondmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise. Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants." -GAL. iv. 22-24. THERE are two covenants, one called the Old, the other the New. God speaks of this very distinctly in Jeremiah, where He says: "The days come, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, not after the
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

The New Covenant
"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."--JER. xxxi. 33, 34. ISAIAH has often been called
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Conversion of all that Come.
"Turn Thou me and I shall be turned." --Jer. xxxi. 18. The elect, born again and effectually called, converts himself. To remain unconverted is impossible; but he inclines his ear, he turns his face to the blessed God, he is converted in the fullest sense of the word. In conversion the fact of cooperation on the part of the saved sinner assumes a clearly defined and perceptible character. In regeneration there was none; in the calling there was a beginning of it; in conversion proper it became a
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Old Things are Passed Away.

John Newton—Olney Hymns

Whether the Active Life Remains after this Life?
Objection 1: It would seem that the active life remains after this life. For the acts of the moral virtues belong to the active life, as stated above [3738](A[1]). But the moral virtues endure after this life according to Augustine (De Trin. xiv, 9). Therefore the active life remains after this life. Objection 2: Further, teaching others belongs to the active life, as stated above [3739](A[3]). But in the life to come when "we shall be like the angels," teaching will be possible: even as apparently
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Waiting Faith Rewarded and Strengthened by New Revelations
'And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A vision of Judgement and Cleansing
'And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel. 4. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Perseverance in Holiness
May the King himself come near and feast his saints to-day! May the Comforter who convinced of sin now come to cheer us with the promise! We noticed concerning the fig tree, that it was confirmed in its barrenness: it had borne no fruit, though it made large professions of doing so, and it was made to abide as it was. Let us consider another form of confirmation: not the curse of continuance in the rooted habit of evil; but the blessing of perseverance in a settled way of grace. May the Lord show
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 35: 1889

Appendix xiv. The Law in Messianic Times.
THE question as to the Rabbinic views in regard to the binding character of the Law, and its imposition on the Gentiles, in Messianic times, although, strictly speaking, not forming part of this history, is of such vital importance in connection with recent controversies as to demand special consideration. In the text to which this Appendix refers it has been indicated, that a new legislation was expected in Messianic days. The ultimate basis of this expectancy must be sought in the Old Testament
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Conversion --Varied Phenomena or Experience.
We have spoken of the meaning of this term, inquired into the nature of the change, and noted its essential elements. We have also learned that there are some who do not need it because they are in a converted state, and that all who are not in such a state of Grace, do need conversion, regardless of anything that may or may not have taken place in the past. We inquire now as to the agencies or means by which this change is brought about. For it is a change which man can certainly not effect by his
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3
The beginning of the circumference was from 'the sheep-gate.' That, we suppose, was seated on the south part, yet but little removed from that corner, which looks south-east. Within was the pool of Bethesda, famous for healings. Going forward, on the south part, was the tower Meah: and beyond that, "the tower of Hananeel": in the Chaldee paraphrast it is, 'The tower Piccus,' Zechariah 14:10; Piccus, Jeremiah 31:38.--I should suspect that to be, the Hippic tower, were not that placed on the north
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The King in Exile
'And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him. 14. When he arose, he took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt; 15. And was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

"We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. "
1 John ii. 1.--"We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." There is no settlement to the spirit of a sinner that is once touched with the sense of his sins, and apprehension of the justice and wrath of God, but in some clear and distinct understanding of the grounds of consolation in the gospel, and the method of salvation revealed in it. There is no solid peace giving answer to the challenges of the law and thy own conscience, but in the advocation of Jesus Christ, the Saviour
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6.
Several interpreters, Paulus especially, have asserted that the interpretation of Micah which is here given, was that of the Sanhedrim only, and not of the Evangelist, who merely recorded what happened and was said. But this assertion is at once refuted when we consider the object which Matthew has in view in his entire representation of the early life of Jesus. His object in recording the early life of Jesus is not like that of Luke, viz., to communicate historical information to his readers.
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. )
Ver. 1. "And it shall come to pass, afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." The communication of the Spirit of God was the constant prerogative of the Covenant-people. Indeed, the very idea of such a people necessarily requires it. For the Spirit of God is the only inward bond betwixt Him and that which is created; a Covenant-people, therefore, without such an inward
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Lord's Supper Instituted.
(Jerusalem. Evening Before the Crucifixion.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 26-29; ^B Mark XIV. 22-25; ^C Luke XXII. 19, 20; ^F I. Cor. XI. 23-26. ^a 26 And as they were eating, ^f the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24 and when he had given thanks, { ^b blessed,} ^f he brake it, ^a and he gave to the disciples, and said, ^b Take ye: ^a Take, eat; this is my body. ^f which is ^c given ^f for you: this do in remembrance of me. [As only unleavened bread was eaten during the paschal supper,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The First Covenant
"Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice, and keep My covenant, ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me."--EX. xix. 5. "He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments."--DEUT. iv. 13.i "If ye keep these judgments, the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant,"--DEUT. vii. 12. "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, which My covenant they brake."--JER. xxxi. 31, 32. WE have
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Sanctification.
I. I will remind you of some points that have been settled in this course of study. 1. The true intent and meaning of the law of God has been, as I trust, ascertained in the lectures on moral government. Let this point if need be, be examined by reference to those lectures. 2. We have also seen, in those lectures, what is not, and what is implied in entire obedience to the moral law. 3. In those lectures, and also in the lectures on justification and repentance, it has been shown that nothing is
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

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