God the Restorer

Transcript

Podcast 3 - God the Restorer

Welcome to The Shekhinah Ministry where the presence of the Lord dwells.

Let us pray. 

We invite the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation,

That hearts may be opened, 

Ears may hear

And understanding may be released

Father, let your Word breathe again today

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today we're reflecting on Jeremiah 32:37 where God declares:

‘Behold, I will gather them out of all countries whither I have driven them in my anger, and in fury, and in great wrath;  And I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely.’

This is not a historical promise - it is a restorative declaration from the heart of God.

The name Jeremiah comes from the Hebrew Yirmeyahu (Hearmiyahwhoo)

It carries two closely linked meanings:

1. Yahweh will raise up
2. Yahweh establishes

This is prophetically powerful

Jeremiah was sent to speak words of uprooting and rebuilding, judgment and hope.

Even his name preached the message!!

Though things are torn down, God is the One who raises again.

We see in Jeremiah 1:10 where he says See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the Kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

I will now give you a short background in How the Israelites became scattered

The scattering of the Israelites did not happen overnight. Here are some things to remember -

God entered covenant with Israel

Repeatedly, they turned to idolatry, injustice and disobedience

Prophets warned them - but they did not listen

As a result;

• The Assyrians exiled the Northern Kingdom which was called Israel at the time
• The Babylonians exiled the Southern Kingdom which was at the time called Judah

This scattering was both judgment and mercy:

• Judgment for covenant breaking
•  Mercy to prevent complete destruction

In the book of Deuteronomy 28:64 

It reads thus, And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known even wood and stone

God foretold dispersion if the covenant was abandoned.

Yet - even in exile - God never withdrew His promise

God reveal His Nature

This verse Jeremiah 32:37 also reveals who God is in correction.

He shows Himself in this verse also as the Restorer

One of the names of God  revealed to man and is connected to restoration is 

Yahweh Rapha - The Lord who heals 

Healing in Hebrew includes repair, renewal and restoration.

In Jeremiah 30:17  God says  ‘For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because you are called an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man sketch after..

God does not scatter to destroy - He scatters to restore rightly  

He is God the Protector 

He reveals Himself as Yahweh Nissi 

The Lord is my banner

A banner represents covering, identity and protection in battle.

Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble

Even in exile, Israel was still under His banner

He is also God the Provider

God remains Yahweh Jireh

The Lord provides

Provision here in the text is not only material 

It is also sustenance, survival and promise preserved

Let's look at Lamentations 3:22

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not!

Jeremiah shows us this truth:

The same God who allowed the scattering is the same God who promises the gathering

He restores (Yahweh Rapha)

He protects ( Yahweh Nissi)

He provides ( Yahweh Jireh)

…and He causes His people to dwell safely again

Let us now do some comaprisons

 Jeremiah 32:37 reveals God’s heart

1. He gathers what is scattered
2. He restores what is displaced
3. He established His people in safety

Jesus came and fulfills this promise

He was revealed as the Restorer of God’s People

Jesus directly echoes Jeremiah 32:37 in Matthew 15: 24 where he said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of Israel.

John 11:52 says, ‘Jesus would gather together, in one, the children of God that were scattered abroad.’

Jesus shows himself as the living embodiment of God’s gathering promise.

Jeremiah speaks it. Jesus does it

Jesus restored people back to Community and Purpose

Restoration in scripture is not just spiritual - it is relational and social

Lepers were healed and returned to society

• The woman with the issue of blood was restored to dignity
• Zacchaeus was restored to righteousness and restitution
• Peter was restored to leadership after failure

Luke 19:9 ‘This day is salvation come to this house because this man too is a son of Abraham.

Jesus didn’t just forgive - He re-established people.

Jesus is the way God Brings His People ‘Back to This Place’

In Jeremiah, ‘this place’ represents covenant dwelling with God

Jesus says:

John14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life.

Through Jesus:

• We are restored to right relationship with the Father
• We are brought back into covenant belonging
• We are no longer exiled spiritually

Ephesians 2:13

You who once were far off are made near by the blood of Christ.

Jesus Causes His People to ‘Dwell Safely’

Jeremiah promises safety. Jesus fulfills it.

In John 10:28  Jesus makes us know that he stands by His promise, He said,

‘I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch  them out of my hand.’

 Then he comforts us in John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

Such assurance! 

Safety in Christ means:

• Security in identity
• Peace in chaos
• Confidence in God’s care

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gathers and guards

Jesus is the Greater Jeremiah

Jeremiah:

• wept over the people
• Warned them
• Prophesied restoration

Jesus: 

• Wept over Jerusalem
• Bore the judgment
• Became the restoration

In Luke 19:41-42  - Jesus weeps because the people missed the time of their visitation

Jeremiah announced restoration. Jesus accomplished it.

When you feel displaced or Off Course

Remember 

Jesus restores us to purpose

Romans 8:28

Tells us that …God works all things together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

You can apply this to your life by asking daily ‘ Lord where are you restoring me - not just rescuing me?

When you need to to live in God’s Safety

Jesus offers peace, not avoidance of trouble

John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble ……but be of good cheer I have overcome the world. 

He’s saying you are mine and you too will overcome

You can practice to rest in God’s promises instead of reacting to fear.

Remember FEAR is not from God 

Jeremiah 32:37 finds its YES in Jesus

God promised to gather 

Jesus came to gather

God promised safety

Jesus gives peace

God promised restoration

Jesus became the Restorer

2 Corinthians 1:20 admonishes that 

All the promises of God in Him are Yes and Amen.

God also uses Jeremiah 32:37 to reveal His leadership strategy and 

Jesus models it perfectly

God Gathers - Leaders Don’t scatter

Jesus leads by drawing people together, not driving them apart

John 10:16

There shall be one flock, and one shepherd.

Healthy leaders unify, not divide

Authority gathers trust, control scatters people

Leaders reflect God when they create belonging

Good leaders will ask themselves - Do people feel drawn, or driven, under my leadership?

Jesus restores Leaders before Releasing Them

Jesus restores Peter before reassigning him.

John 21:15-17

Jesus told Peter ‘Feed my sheep’

Peter was 

• Publically restored
• Recommissioned 
• Trusted again

So we see - 

• God stores leaders privately before using them publicly
• Failure does not disqualify; unhealed failure does
• Restoration produces humility, not insecurity

God promised to reposition leaders - ‘ I will bring them again Unto this Place 

This place represents divine assignment

Jesus told His disciples:

In Matthew 28:18-20 —All authority is given unto Me…

The He released authority to them

• Leadership is positioning, not popularity
• God may remove you from a place to refine you, then return you with clarity
• Repositioning often looks like delay

Jesus Leads by Making Others Safe

Jeremiah says God will cause them to dwell safely.

Jesus says: 

John 14:27

My peace I give unto you…’

People flourished around Jesus because: 

• They were heard 
• They were protected 
• They were corrected with love

When you are a good leader 

• People grow where they feel safe
• Fear - based leadership kills creativity and calling
• Peace is a leadership atmosphere

Jesus Restores Identity - Not Just Structure

Jesus didn't just rebuild Israel’s systems - He restored sons and daughters

Luke 15:22 - ‘But the Father said to His servants. ‘Quick! Bring forth the best robe and put it on Him. Put a ring on His finger and sandals on His feet!   So here we see that; 

• Leaders restore identity, not just productivity
• Correct behaviour, but protect dignity
• Restoration produces loyalty

Here is a prophetic Word to Leaders

Some leaders were scattered before they were established.

• Removed from platforms
• Separated from familiar places 
• Hidden before being trusted again

This was not rejection - it was preparation

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal Glory in Christ, After you have suffered a little  while  … He will himself restore, establish, strengthen and settle you.’

If you are a leader here are so tips you can practice daily

1. Gather Dailly

• Check in, not just check performance
• Build connection before correction

        2. Lead from Healing

• Deal with wounds so you don’t wound others
• Pray before responding

        3. Create Safety 

• Allow questions
• Encourage growth
• Model peace under pressure

Jesus fulfills Jeremiah 32:37 as the Chief Shepherd and every leader under Him is called to reflect the same heart.

Leaders gathers

Leaders restores

Leaders establish people in peace

Hebrews 13:20 - Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep – be like HIM

As a final Encouragement remember  -  

If you have ever felt scattered, delayed or displaced - Jesus is still gathering, still restoring.

Still establishing His people in Peace.

Be blessed.

This is Andra - Shekhinah Ministry - saying bye for now until next time