The nation of Israel pretty much did everything possible to anger and alienate God. They exceeded the sins of the evil nations He commanded them to destroy. Repeatedly they quit following Him. They broke His heart and deserved annihilation which really makes His statement below more than amazing.
Meditation
Jeremiah 31:37—This is what the LORD says: If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below explored, I will reject all of Israel's descendants because of all they have done—[this is] the LORD's declaration.
God is giving us a formula through His prophet Jeremiah: If A (heaven measured) and B (earth’s foundations explored) then C (Israel’s descendants rejected). Scientists with all their amazing technology and brilliance are incapable of measuring the heavens or exploring earth’s foundations. Since man is incapable of fulfilling A or B, God will not reject Israel’s descendants. What we have is the formula of faithfulness stated inversely to what we would expect, and with a touch of brilliance, a quick reading misses. God is the epitome of faithfulness to His children—the embodiment of unfaithfulness—what a paradox! Seven times the Lord’s faithfulness is extolled in Psalm 89. Notice in verse 1 the extent of it. “I will sing about the LORD's faithful love forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.”
What does this mean to us? Do you ever wonder if your salvation is secure because of sin you’ve committed? Do you ever struggle with the thought that God might not let you into heaven? I imagine there is not an honest Christian who has not lived with such doubt. But consider this. In John 10:28 Jesus states, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.” This is not a wishy-washy commitment God is making but rather an unequivocal (absolute) promise to anyone who has placed faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior! “For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:40).
In 1 Corinthians 1:8,9, Paul teaches, “He will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Notice that our salvation is not tied to our ability but rather to God’s faithfulness which is a follow-up to His calling us to Himself! To be discouraged and to fear for our salvation, if we are Jesus-followers, is really to question His word and His capability of delivering what He promised. Don’t go there!
Inspiration
When God gives an earnest, nothing can vitiate his divine guarantee.—R.C. Sproul in What is Reformed Theology?
