Why did His people stop loving Him? He asked them, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?” [2] He had delivered them from slavers. They flourished under His faithful love. He brought them into a land of abundant food. They corrupted it. No gratitude! No love! No one asked, “Where is the Lord?”
When two people love each other, they want to be together. God wanted to be close with His people. They wanted to be far from Him. In fact, they wanted to live as though He did not exist. Can you imagine God’s embarrassment? They claimed to be His people and yet, they lived antagonistically towards Him. They lavished the adoration that was due to Him on others.
The Lord asked them to travel far and wide to see if there was ever a nation like theirs who exchanged the true God for worthless idols. He told the heavens, “Be astonished, heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate.” [3]
God lamented: “My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.” [4] God wanted to fill their cups until overflowing. [5] They betrayed Him for “husbands” who had nothing to give but pain and abuse.
God had a covenant relationship with the Jerusalemites. They made vows to be faithful to one another. At first, Jerusalem loved God as a bride loves her husband, but later betrayed Him.
God questioned her decision. He asked her, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me.” [6] He was gracious to her. She was cruel to Him. She took His gifts and ran. She gave herself to those who did not love her. Why did she choose worthless idols? The idolaters of Egypt had abused her. Why did she spurn the living God for false gods?
The Lord said to her, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your weddings; how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.” [7] She may have forgotten the love they once shared, but He did not.
Jeremiah pleaded with his people to return to God. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah was saying, “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters!” [8] The Lord quenches the thirst of souls.
Like Jeremiah, the Apostle Paul urged people to turn from idols to God. He pointed out that God made everything. He gives everyone life. He is not made of gold, silver, or stone. He is not the product of human design. God commands people to repent of such false notions. God has set a day on which He will judge the world with justice by His Son Jesus Christ. His truth-proof is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. [9]
Jesus Christ is the chain breaker. He casts out defiling spirits. He puts to death the old man of sin and resurrects the new creation. He creates a hunger for holiness where once there was only an appetite for sin.
God deserves our first love. Jesus told the Christians in Ephesus, “I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly and will remove your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent.” [10]
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much! Thank You for coming after us when we have departed in our hearts from You. Please fill us with Your Spirit of love that we may be able to love as You love. Help us to be faithful to our marriage vows to You. Thank You for helping us in this relationship to remain faithful and adoring to You. We look forward to marriage feast of the Lamb and His Bride. And we say, ‘Come Lord Jesus, come!’ In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”
[1] Jeremiah 2:1-3 Reference
[2] Jeremiah 2:5
[3] Jeremiah 2:12
[4] Jeremiah 2:13
[5] Psalm 23:5 Reference
[6] Jeremiah 2:5
[7] Jeremiah 2:2
[8] Isaiah 55:1
[9] Acts 17:24-25, 29-31 Reference
[10] Revelation 2:4-5
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