Do you remember how heart broken you were when you had great difficulties in a relationship with someone you cared about? Or maybe you are there. If you ever want to know the heart of God, the broken-hearted lover of his people, then this chapter is it. It is just raw with emotion.
“I remember the loyalty of your youth, your love as a bride–how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown, Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who ate of it found themselves guity; disaster came on them” (v. 1-2).
The Lord loved Israel and Israel followed him like a fresh, new bride follows her groom. Anyone who touched the Lord’s bride had to deal with him directly. It was love, and it was beautiful.
But then it changed. Israel drifted away. The LORD was crushed.
“What fault did your fathers find in Me that they went so far from Me, followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves? They stopped asking, “Where is the LORD who brought us from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness…” (v. 5-6).
He continues…
“I brought you to a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but after you entered, you defiled My and; you made My inheritance detestable. The priests quite asking, “Where is the LORD?” The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the rulers rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols” (v. 8).
Oh, the anguish of God.
“Be horrified at this, heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled. This is the LORD’s declaration” (v. 12).
Then the LORD shares with them a harsh reality.
“Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Think it over and see how evil and bitter it is for you to abandon the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me” (v. 19).
So what were they doing that was awful?
“On every high hill and under every green tree you like down like a prostitute” (v. 20).
The people protested. We’re not like this. God responds (warning: sexually explicit depiction):
“How can you protest, I am not defiled; I have not followed the Baals”? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young camel twisting and turn on her way, a wild donkey at home in the wilderness. She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can control her passion?…But you say, “It’s hopeless; I love strangers, and I will continue to follow them” (v 22-24).
They continue.
“They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets say to a tree, “You are my father,” and to a stone, “You gave birth to me.” For they have turned their back to Me and not their face, yet in their time of disaster they beg, “Rise up and save us!” But where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them rise up and save you in your time of disaster if they can, for your are as numerous as your cities, Judah” (v. 26-28).
“Why do you bring a case against Me? All of you have have rebelled against Me. This is the LORD’s declaration..Evil generation, pay attention to the word of the LORD! …Why do My people claim, “We will go where we want; we will no longer come to You”? Can a young woman forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for countless days. How skillfully you pursue love…” (vv 29-33).
Their sin deepens:
“Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor” (v. 34). God loves the poor and is their fierce protector.
Yet they thought Egypt and Assyria and the big, powerful nations would help them. God shakes his head in grief. He knows the truth.
“Moreover, you will be led out from here with your hands on your head since the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not succeed even with their help” (v. 37).
Ugh. If you read this far, then you see clearly the anguish of God. How he loved his people, protected them and lavished upon them great blessing. Yet they were stubborn in turning away from him. They followed the Baals who were all about sex. They said they couldn’t help it, “we’re hopeless” (v. 25). And they neglected the poor and innocent, blaming them for things they did not do.
Here are some of my many thoughts.
- It has been said that the church and even nations can endure any difficulty, but there is one thing they cannot endure: Prosperity. When a nation or a people prosper, they turn from God. We see this happening now.
- It is well-established throughout history that a nation will fall when it throws off sexual restraint. It’s the last thing to go. When you see this happen, collapse is inevitable. How soon afterwards? Depends on the nation and the mercy of God. But we see it the same in Jeremiah. They were lusting wildly after one another and were declaring they couldn’t help it (v. 25). It’s the way they felt. And so they would continue in it. Nothing new under the sun.
- God calls them to remember the times when they were so close to him, how they loved and followed him like a bride. Honestly we all go through barren seasons with the Lord. It’s good for us to remember the times when we followed Him closely. We need to ask ourselves what led to such intimate times with Him? A free heart? Time spent?
- When I read the prophets, it’s without a doubt in my mind that I know that our nation will not last much longer. In fact, I think we are witnessing the collapse of Western civilization as a whole. In that gap I think the Asian nations will rise. But I think we can all agree that we need to prepare our hearts and minds for what is ahead. That means knowing His voice and walking in obedience much more closely.
- This phrase is a tough one to read: Your own evil will discipline you (v. 19). It’s true. When we go down the path of great evil, we will reap the result. You harvest what you plant. As sin seems unleashed right now, there’s no way we won’t pay the consequences.
