How to make sense of the Prophets

[au5t1n]

I'm reading the major Prophets right now, and I have difficulty understanding why the references to the new covenant and Christ's advent are often followed by talk of Israel having sacrifices and priests, being restored to the land, being honored by the nations, etc. at that time. It's all over the place, but here's just one example:

Jer. 33:14-22 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,
Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
[Then] may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

What is the significance of these prophecies?

 

[Poimen]

God's covenant promises are always conveyed through the language, culture, and religion of the Old Testament people. Many of these prophecies that you refer to indicate the temporary restoration of the people to the land of promise after the exile. Thus we should expect that they are presented in a way that made sense to the people of the time, and helped them to understand how their rescue from Babylon/Persia was an act of God, consistent with His promises to Abraham to establish a people and place. However the deeper or typological significance is that they point to the finality of salvation in Jesus Christ (Acts 15:13ff. cf. Romans 10:4).