We left for a much needed vacation last week and returned refreshed and ready to continue.
We have now studied how the 10 northern tribes known as Israel never truly returned to the land known also referred to as Samaria. They were scattered all around the land of Assyria and remained idolatrous in a land of idolatry. But, what about Judah? Where they more righteous? Did they worship Jehovah alone? They had the Temple, the prophets, the sacrifices all in the city of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 3:1 God says, "If a husband divorces his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me," declares the LORD.
3:2 "Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; Where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them Like an Arab in the desert, And you have polluted a land With your harlotry and with your wickedness.
3:3 "Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no spring rain. Yet you had a harlot's forehead; You refused to be ashamed.
So often we find that we are just like Israel and Judah. We chase after all that the world, the culture, our idols of sports, entertainment, and media. We gradually sink into our own sinful idolatry and forget and deny all that Jehovah has given us, spoken to us, and created for us.
We also don’t connect the dots. That is we don’t see that our behavior has anything to do with our circumstances. We are merely victims of cosmic forces and evil people who don’t agree with us.
3:4 "Have you not just now called to Me, 'My Father, You are the friend of my youth?
3:5 'Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?' Behold, you have spoken And have done evil things, And you have had your way." Faithless Israel Called to Repentance.
Who is truly crying out to Jehovah in repentance and confession; both for themselves and for this nation? Most are afraid of calling anything out as evil, immoral, or ungodly. We fear men far more than we fear Jehovah. As has been said earlier, in seeking to not offend men, few take time to truthfully consider how we offend Jehovah.
3:6 Then the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, "Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there.
3:7 "I thought, 'After she has done all these things she will return to Me'; but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
3:8 "And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.
So know we read about this writ of divorce to faithless Israel. Israel was a harlot, a sinful prostitute. She sought out other gods under every tree and high hill. These were common idolatrous places for human sacrifices, idol worship, and sexual intercourse under the guise of worship.
Judah was not innocent or more righteous than Israel. Why did Jehovah not give her a writ of divorce? He did send her away to captivity into Babylon. Daniel was one of just four named who were carried away.
Jehovah’s patience is often totally misrepresented and confused with grace or tacit agreement. Jehovah says no as she is a harlot as well. He calls Judah treacherous and more faithless than Israel!
3:9 "Because of the lightness of her harlotry, she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
3:10 "Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception," declares the LORD.
3:11 And the LORD said to me, "Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
3:12 "Go and proclaim these words toward the north and say, 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD; 'I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,' declares the LORD; 'I will not be angry forever.
Yet with all this horrendous harlotry and outright denial of the fear of Jehovah, He still calls them back. But they must repentant and confess their sins. They must deny and destroy all their idols. They need to forsake all of their old fellow idol worshipers. They must turn completely around and cry out to Jehovah for mercy.
This change of heart, this change of direction, this change of priorities, this change of plans, and this change of heart is more needed today than in perhaps any other time in history.
Do you feel estranged from Jehovah?
Do you wonder why certain things are happening to you?
Have you truly sought out Jehovah in fear and trembling?
More next Saturday.