The closing sentence of the oracle in Jeremiah 31:23–26 speaks of someone waking up from a refreshing sleep. What is not clear is who the person is. Some commentators suggest that this is a comment inserted by the editor of this passage who expresses his joy at the message1. Another suggests that Jeremiah had received the message as a dream and expresses his response when he wakes up2. Since it is the last sentence of the oracle, it is probably best to see it as echoing the start of the oracle in Jeremiah 31:23 in which the people are seen as declaring the blessing of fellowship with the Lord in the land. The voice in 31:26 is therefore that of the people who express the joy of refreshing sleep that comes from being at rest in the land. Scripture describes the blessing of restful sleep because of the Lord’s protection and care (Psalm 3:5; Psalm 4:8; Psalm 127:2). Peaceful sleep is one of the blessings of living in obedience in the land (Leviticus 26:6) and restless sleep is part of the curse of exile (Deuteronomy 28:65–67). Those who have received the harmony, satisfaction, and replenishing of Jeremiah 31:24–25 can wake up in the morning having experienced a peaceful and refreshing night’s sleep because of the Lord’s care and faithfulness3.
26 At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.