They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord.
– Jeremiah 31:12
I love that verse, this whole chapter is awesome. It’s a promise of God’s restoration of his people from exile. How he’s going to bring them back and not just bring them back to Jerusalem, but how he’s going to restore his people.
Jeremiah 31:12 reminds us God is continually showering us with mercy.
And I want to lead us to pray according to this phrase, “They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord.” Is that not a great phrase, to be radiant over the goodness of God? Does that describe you? Are you radiant over the goodness of God? Are you so overwhelmed with delight in the goodness of God?
Now even as I say that, I think about brothers and sisters in Christ who may be listening to this, who are walking through really hard days and it almost feels fanciful to be overwhelmed with delight, to be radiating with the goodness of God. And I in no way want to treat trials tritely or lightly, for they’re often very heavy. At the same time, this is part of the beauty of the gospel and the greatness of our God. Even when we walk through trials, God is pouring out new mercy every morning, sustaining mercy, strengthening mercy, help, love, comfort, and peace that we need. So that even in dark days we can radiate over the goodness of God, over his faithfulness and his provision of all that we need.
Jeremiah 31:12 reminds us God will remain faithful to his promises.
Just think about your life, think about how God has been faithful to you, just think about all the ways God has been good to you. It’s part of why the New Testament commands us to give thanks in all circumstances because even in hard circumstances, we still have so much to be thankful for. Ultimately, the salvation of our souls, the hope of eternal life, that dark difficult days will not be the end of the story. Even that, in and of itself causes us to radiate over the goodness of God. That suffering and trial and temptation will not have the last word, that sin, and death will not have the last word. Just as Jeremiah 31 says later, “God will turn our morning into joy, he will give us gladness for sorrow.” And so we pray.
God, we praise you for your goodness in our lives… And we praise you for your grace in our lives, especially on hard days. God, we praise you for your faithfulness to us, for never giving up on us, for never leaving us alone. Jesus, we praise you for entering into this sinful, fallen world… And for experiencing crucifixion at the hands of sinners like us. For taking the price of our sin upon yourself and for rising from the dead, so that we can be forgiven of our sins and free from sin’s power. And free to live with hope, that no matter how hard days here get, that we know we will be with you forever. That you will give us resurrected bodies free from pain, sorrow, and hurt, healed completely for all of eternity.
This verse encourages us to praise God for his grace and mercy.
God, we radiate over your promises, over your presence in our lives today… Amidst whatever we’re walking through, over your grace… Over your mercy that’s new this morning and will be new tomorrow morning and the next morning. For your love for us that follows us, pursues us all the days of our lives. And for the strength that only you can give… The peace that only you can give, the comfort that only you can give. God, we praise you for your goodness. Help us to live today, radiant over the goodness of the Lord… And giving thanks in all circumstances, knowing that you’re working all these things together for our good.
Prayer for the North Koreans
And God, even as we pray this… We intercede for people who don’t know Your goodness in Jesus… Who have never even heard about Your goodness in Jesus… Specifically today for North Koreans… For millions upon millions of them who have little to no knowledge of your goodness in Jesus.
God, we pray, do whatever is needed to change that… And they might be reached in a dark country with light from the gospel. That they might radiate over your goodness as your children. God, please bless our brothers and sisters in Christ in North Korea… Please give them boldness and wisdom to know how best to share the gospel. We pray for their protection… Your provision for them… That they would radiate over your goodness and that the gospel would spread through them and to us… God, through your church. In a dark world help us to live today, radiant over your goodness. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.
David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.
