This section consists of a small collection of messianic prophecies.
33:14 Future days would come, the Lord promised, when He would fulfill His promises concerning the restoration of all Israel.
"The predicted restoration (the days are coming') is not, however, to be looked for in the immediate time of the return from the Captivity. Only in a limited and preliminary way were these promises fulfilled in Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar after the Captivity (cf. Ezra 1:8; 2:2; also 2:40-54; 8:15-20). Ultimately, they are combined in the highest sense in Christ (cf. Ps 110:4) and are yet to be fulfilled in the reign of Messiah on earth."435
33:15 At that future time, Yahweh would cause a righteous Sprout from the Davidic line of kings to appear, a legitimate ruler. He would rule in justice and righteousness on the earth (not just in heaven; cf. 23:5-6).436
33:16 Then Judah would enjoy salvation, and Jerusalem would dwell in safety. The name of the city would be "Yahweh our righteousness."Formerly this was to be the name of a ruler (23:6), but it will also be the name of Jerusalem (cf. Ezek. 48:35).
"The inference is that Jerusalem would so manifest the qualities of justice and righteousness (in contrast to her past bad record) that she would be worthy of such a name and exemplify the divine order for all the cities and all the people in Israel."437
33:17 From then on, there would always be a Davidic king ruling over the nation of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 2:4; 8:25; 9:5).438
That King has appeared, but His subjects, the Israelites, refused to accept Him as their King. Therefore, He returned to heaven, but He will return to earth to rule over restored Israel in the future, at the Second Coming. Christ's present rule over the church today from heaven is not the same rule as the one promised here. The one promised here is a reign over the Israelites at the time of their future restoration.439
33:18 Likewise the Levitical priests would resume functioning and would continue to do so forever.440They would offer sacrifices of worship continually (in the millennial kingdom). The burnt and grain (or meal) offerings were specifically for worship rather than to remove the defilement of sin (cf. Lev. 1-2).441In Jeremiah's day, the priesthood was corrupt, and it may even have included non-Levitical priests (cf. 6:13; 19:1; 26:10-11). The lack of legitimate priests was a problem in the early years of the restoration community (cf. Ezra 8:15).
In the Millennium there will be a restoration of Levitical priests, though instead of looking forward to the coming of the ultimate Sacrifice the worship will look back to it.442
33:19-21 This promise of the restoration of a Davidic king and of Levitical priests would be as certain as the Lord's promise that day would follow night forever (cf. 31:35-36; Gen. 1:5, 14-18; 8:22; Num. 25:12-13; Deut. 4:19; Ps. 19:1-6; 136:7-9).
33:22 Yahweh promised to multiply the descendants of David and the Levites as the stars of the heavens and as the sand of the sea (cf. Gen. 13:16; 15:5; 22:17).
"Just as the covenant with Noah (cf. Gen 8:22) is kept, so the covenant with David (cf. 2 Sam 7) and that with Levi (Num 17) will also be kept."443
33:23-24 The Judahites had concluded that Yahweh had rejected the two families of the Israelites: the Northern and Southern Kingdoms (cf. 30:3). They were saying that there was no future for them as nations.
33:25-26 But Yahweh promised that He would restore the fortunes of Jacob's seed and that a descendant of David would rule over all the Israelites in the future. This promise was as sure as God's promise to provide day and night faithfully. The Lord's compassion prevented His abandoning His chosen people and gave hope for their restoration.
"The greatest argument for the future restoration of Israel as a nation is the character of God. He made a series of covenants with the patriarchs, David, and the Levites; His character demands that He will ultimately fulfill these promises to their nation."444
"The salvation announcements in chap. 33 answer at least two questions left from chap. 32 (and 30-31): (1) How can people who persistently rebelled and even offered their children to Molech, become covenant partners with God? The LORD will heal, cleanse, and forgive them (vv 6-8) out of mercy for them (v 26). (2) What will life be like for the people whom God will plant in the land? Families will grow again (v 11), worship will resume at the temple (vv 11, 18), and God will always provide a legitimate and righteous ruler (vv 14-26), so that people can live in safety (v 16). All this will be accomplished by the Creator, for whom nothing is too difficult (32:17, 26) and whose willingness and power to do good inspires awe among the nations (33:9)."445
