Denial Is Not Innocence

Jeremiah 2:22-37

“For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.  Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.” (Jeremiah 2:22-25)

Israel was like a little boy who has used a bunch of hand sanitizer and insists he clean despite smudges of dirt on his face and arms and filthy clothing.  No amount of washing soda(nitre) and soap could take away the underlying sin.  They claim they have not worshipped other gods, but they need to look at what they have done.  They are like a camel or donkey in the estrus cycle, ignoring everything but their desires of the moment, even going without water and traveling so far as to make their feet sore to satisfy their cravings for the attention of some male and convinced that nothing else will satisfy them.   

“As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. “ (Jeremiah 2:26-27)

They are like a thief who has been caught, ashamed of being caught, but not of what they have done.   Their leaders, even those who are supposed to represent God, refer to a block of wood as the father or to a stone as their mother because they have turned their backs on God.  When they have serious problems they come to God demanding He save them. 

“But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.  Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.  In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.” (Jeremiah 2:28-30)

Why don’t the gods they have claimed made them save them if they have the power?  Why ask God when every town has their own god.  After all, they have violated their agreement with God and have ignored His every effort to correct them or work things out, and have killed the prophets he sent to warn them, like some kind of wild animal. 

“O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?” (Jeremiah 2:31)

The people are treating God as if he were a husband who has broken every promise to them,  Leaving them stuck in the middle of the desert with no supplies or in a land where the sun never shines.  Why are they saying they don’t need or want God any more.    

“Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.  Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.  Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.  Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.” (Jeremiah 2:32-35)

Is it that easy for a girl to forget her engagement ring or a bride to forget her wedding dress?  God’s chosen people have forgotten their God for untold years as if it meant nothing to them.  They have gone out of their way to look for somebody else instead and have encouraged others who didn’t know the Lord to do the same.  They have destroyed innocent people who tried to do right, and the proof of their guilt is obvious.  In spite of their obvious guilt, they insist he has no right to be angry at them.  He is begging them to acknowledge their sin. 

 

“Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.  Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them. ” (Jeremiah 2:36-37)

Judah was like a woman trying to change her life by finding a different husband, going from one guy to another.   Everyone except them knows the current affair will end just like the last one, with her blaming the guy and leaving with her head in her hands, weeping because her first husband isn’t sympathetic to her hurts.   He is not interested in hearing who bad the others were, and knows next time will not turn out any better.  Frustrated that The Assyrians had turned on them, Judah had turned to Egypt.  God warns that it will turn out the same way sooner or later.