Jeremiah 2 Israel has Abandoned Adonai, Her Husband

I have thought of several ways to cover today’s passage, but I think that the best is to simply read it, and then go through each section. Jer. 2-3:5

Jeremiah 2–3:5 TLV

Again the word of Adonai came to me, saying: “Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, thus says Adonai: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, and the way you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was kadosh to Adonai, the firstfruits of the harvest. All who devoured him were held guilty. Catastrophe overtook them.” It is a declaration of Adonai. Hear the word of Adonai, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says Adonai: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They walked after worthless things, becoming worthless themselves? They did not ask ‘Where is Adonai, who brought us up from the land of Egypt and led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, through a land of drought and distress, through a land where no one travels, where no one lives?’ Yet I brought you into a fertile land, to eat of its fruit and goodness. When you came, you defiled My land. You made My heritage an abomination. The kohanim did not ask, ‘Where is Adonai?’ The Torah experts did not know Me. The shepherds rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and went after unprofitable things. Therefore I will plead with you again!” It is a declaration of Adonai. “I will contend with your children’s children. Cross to the coasts of Kittim and see! Send to Kedar, and observe carefully. See if there has been anything like this. Has a nation changed its gods— even though they are not gods? Yet My people have exchanged their glory for worthless things. Be appalled at this, O heavens! Be utterly horrified and dumbfounded.” It is a declaration of Adonai. “My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me —the spring of living water— and they dug their own cisterns— cracked cisterns that hold no water. Is Israel a servant—a slave by birth? Then why has he become plunder? Young lions have roared at him they have roared loudly. They made his land a waste— his cities are in ruins and uninhabited. Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes have grazed on the crown of your head. Have you not brought this on yourself, when He led you in the way? But now, what is on the road to Egypt? Drinking the waters of the Nile? Or what is on the road to Assyria? Drinking the waters of the Euphrates? Your own wickedness will rebuke you and your backslidings will chide you. Know then and see how bad and bitter it is for you to forsake Adonai your God. Nor is fear of Me in you.” It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot. “Indeed, long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve!’ Instead, on every high hill and under every green tree you sprawled out as a prostitute. Yet I had planted you as a choice vine from completely faithful seed. How then did you become to Me a wandering wild vine? Even though you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me.” It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai. “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled— I have not gone after the Baalim? Look at your behavior in the Valley! Recognize what you have done. You are a swift young camel galloping aimlessly, a wild donkey used to the wilderness— sniffing the wind in her passion— in her heat, who can restrain her? All males that pursue her will not tire themselves. At mating time they will find her. Do not run while your feet are bare and your throat is thirsty. But you said ‘There is no hope! No! For I have loved foreign gods and I will go after them.’ As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel is shamed— they, their kings, their princes, their kohanim and their prophets. They say to wood, ‘You are my father’ and to a stone, ‘You birthed me.’ They have turned their back to Me and not their face. Yet when they are in trouble they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’ Where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come—if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as you have cities, O Judah. Why do you strive with Me? You have all rebelled against Me.” It is a declaration of Adonai. “In vain I struck your children. They took no correction. Your sword devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.” You, generation, heed Adonai’s word! “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam. We won’t come to You any more’? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me, days without number. How clever are your ways of seeking love. Therefore you even taught wicked women your ways. Moreover on your skirts is found the blood of the innocent poor —you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things, you say, ‘I am innocent— surely His anger is turned away from me?’ See, I will pass judgment on you, since you say: ‘I haven’t sinned!’ Why do you make light of changing your way? You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria. You will also go out from there with your hands on your head. For Adonai has rejected those in whom you trust— you will not prosper by them.” “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to be with another man, will he return to her again? Would not such a land be totally polluted? You are a prostitute with many lovers. Now are you returning to Me?” It is a declaration of Adonai. “Lift your eyes to the barren hills and see! Where have you not been violated? By the wayside you sat waiting for them like a nomad in the desert. You have polluted the land with your prostitution and wickedness. Therefore showers have been withheld and there has been no spring rain. You have a harlot’s brazen look; you refuse to be ashamed. Did you not just now call to Me: ‘Avi! You are a friend of my youth. Would He keep a grudge forever? Would He keep it to the end?’ So you said—yet you have done all the evil things you could.”

Adonai Remembers

Last time, we saw that Jeremiah received his Commissioning from Adonai. However, unlike Isaiah or Ezekiel, there is no written response from Jeremiah to show that he accepted it. What we see from the first verse in Jeremiah 2, that he is now sent on his first mission to Jerusalem.

Adonai’s message through Jeremiah begins by reminding the people of Jerusalem of their former love for Him. There was a time that the Children of Jacob loved Adonai as a new bride loves her husband. There was a time when the nation followed Adonai wholeheartedly; a time when they were holy before the Lord. This was a time of provision, blessing and protection.

But Israel Forgot

The message given by Jeremiah, is split up by the statement “It is a declaration of Adonai”. Jeremiah uses this statement 172 times throughout the entire book, and 7 times in this passage we just read. Jeremiah uses this statement to emphasise a point and also when there is a slight change in topic, but I think there is another reason. Jeremiah was very well aware that as a young person, his words would probably be ignored. Jeremiah wanted to make absolutely certain that people knew that the words he was speaking, were from Adonai.

Israel Followed Worthlessness

The first section of Adonai’s case against Israel, verses 4 - 9, Adonai asks the people, “Why have you strayed so far from me?” How is it that a nation, that once followed Adonai, would now choose to follow after other gods? Was there something wrong with Adonai? Had Adonai been unfair to the people? Adonai had provided for them, he had watched over them and protected them.

But the people had run after “worthless things.” Adonai points out, that we become like the things or people that we idolise. All of mankind will return to the dust, and all that is created by mankind will likewise perish and rot. And if we set anyone or anything above the eternal God, then we become just as worthless as the temporary things we have lifted up.

Adonai also pointed out that the land does not belong to us, rather it is His land, and His heritage. We are simply stewards of the resources that Adonai has created. But unlike what the world thinks, the number one way of defiling the land is not with carbon emissions, but we defile the land with our idolatry. We defile the land by not acknowledging that Adonai is the true owner of the land that we live in.

Israel Exchanged Gods

There is no neutrality in this life. We are either walking after Adonai, or we a walking away from Him. We are never simply “on the fence.” When Israel refused to seek after Adonai, they found themselves replacing Him with other fake gods. They “exchanged their glory for worthless things.” The children of Israel were not satisfied with Adonai, and like it says in Rom. 1:25

Romans 1:25 TLV

They traded the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Two Evils

Why is it that when people reject Adonai, that they actively replace Him with something else? Firstly, Israel had forsake the “spring of living water”, the Ruach HaKodesh, and then they attempted to create their own sources of spiritual connection.

For these reasons, rejecting the true and living God, and following after other gods, Adonai gave the northern kingdom of Israel over into the hands of the Assyrians. Jeremiah is reminding those in Jerusalem, that almost 100 years before, in 721 BC, Assyria had laid waste the Northern Kingdom. Israel was plundered and the cities burned with fire.

Jeremiah is also asking, why are you, Jerusalem, now looking to the strength of Assyria or Egypt to save you from the threat that is coming? Instead Adonai states, Jer. 2:19

Jeremiah 2:19 TLV

Your own wickedness will rebuke you and your backslidings will chide you. Know then and see how bad and bitter it is for you to forsake Adonai your God. Nor is fear of Me in you.” It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot.

When we do not fear Adonai, then come face to face with the bitter consequences of our own sinful actions.

Soap Can’t Clean Iniquity

The picture of horror now worsens, as Adonai attempts to describe the tendency of those in Judah to run after foreign gods. Some people may say that they live a moral life, or that they have cleaned up their act, and therefore do not need God. But God points out that the soap of our attempt to clean ourselves, does not remove the stain of iniquity that is in our lives.

We must come to God humbly and repent as it says in Isa. 1:18

Isaiah 1:18 TLV

“Come now, let us reason together,” says Adonai. “Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they will become like wool.

When we refuse to come, then we end up denying that we are doing anything wrong. Which is why Adonai asks the people, “How can you say, ‘I have not gone after the Baalim?’” The reality was, that the people had become like wild animals, attempting to satisfy their lustful desires. They were running after anything to worship, as long as it was not Adonai, the One, True God.

Yet when people are in trouble, when they are caught in the act, they find themselves coming back to God … not for repentance, but simply to alleviate the consequences of their actions. Adonai tells the people, “Go and ask your gods whom you have served. See if they will save you!!”

Discipline Didn’t Work

Adonai had attempted to bring correction through many different prophets, but instead of listening and repenting, the Children of Israel had killed the prophets. Yeshua would mourn over this same issue in Matt. 23:37-39

Matthew 23:37–39 TLV

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Instead of listening to the rebuke, and changing their behaviour, the people continued and increased their wickedness. The wickedness increased so much, that even the ungodly were taking tips from God’s people, on how to behave wickedly.

When the world acts worldly, we should not be suprised. But when those who claim to follow God act ungodly, … oh how that should anger us! Yeshua said it this way, Matt. 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21–23 TLV

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ ”

Unfaithful Actions

We have spoken about how Jeremiah’s ministry began during a time of Spiritual revival. King Josiah was purging the land of all the idols, yet we see that Adonai is not satisfied with simply an external cleansing; He is not satisfied with only the king enforcing a return to God. Adonai wants to see the entire nation truly repent. So the passage closes with this: Jer. 3:4-5

Jeremiah 3:4–5 TLV

Did you not just now call to Me: ‘Avi! You are a friend of my youth. Would He keep a grudge forever? Would He keep it to the end?’ So you said—yet you have done all the evil things you could.”

Even though people had called out to Adonai, expecting Him to simply ignore all the wickedness that had been done, yet their actions told another story. Michael Brown puts it this way:

A mediating view would recognize that the Lord was truly touched by his people’s affectionate, theologically sounding words of repentance but deeply grieved over their hypocritical actions.

Application

In Rom. 15:4 Rav. Sha’ul states that:

Romans 15:4 TLV

For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

So how do we apply this passage to our lives?

Remember Our First Love

Yeshua reminds the believers in Ephesus, Rev. 2:4-7

Revelation 2:4–7 TLV

“But this I have against you, that you have forsaken your first love. Remember then from where you have fallen. Repent and do the deeds you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your menorah from its place—unless you repent. “Yet you have this going for you, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God.”

As a congregation, as a nation, we need to remember our first love of Adonai. Where we have fallen away from Adonai, we need to repent and come back to Him. He is gracious and merciful, as John said in 1 Jn. 1:9

1 John 1:9 TLV

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Seek the Eternal Reward

We must look at our lives and see where we are following after worthless things. We are called to seek first the kingdom of God, Yeshua said in Matt. 6:33

Matthew 6:33 TLV

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

And Rav. Sha’ul told the believers in Corinth, 1 Cor. 3:11-15

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 TLV

For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid—which is Yeshua the Messiah. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is. If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss—he himself will be saved, but as through fire.

We are to seek the eternal reward that the Lord will give; we are to prioritise the Kingdom of God; and we are to follow after things that Adonai values.

Adonai Must Be Our Source

We can not clean up our act by ourselves, we must rely on the Ruach HaKodesh. Rav. Sha’ul urges: Rom. 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 TLV

I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable to God—which is your spiritual service. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The renewing of our mind comes from spending time in the Presence of the Lord and in the Word of God. We all need to be reading His word daily! We all need to be praying daily!

If we are not in the Presence of the Lord, how will we feel His conviction? How will we be changed from glory to glory? How will we be able to build our lives with eternal value and worth? How will we be able to reflect His Light?

Our Words Can’t Speak Louder Than Our Actions

Let us not simply follow Adonai with our words, but rather let our actions demonstrate that we are choosing His way over our way, that we are choosing His Mind over our feelings.

Yeshua, Himself, said Lk. 22:42 “saying, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.””

But we are called to demonstrate our love of Yeshua through this: Jn. 15:9-11

John 15:9–11 TLV

“Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. Abide in My love! If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.

So as Yeshua is our example, let us all chose to obey God’s Word over all else, and in this way our joy will be full!