Just Confess And Repent

Jeremiah 3:1-21

“They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:1)

The prophecy continues with the idea of the unfaithful wife who has gone out looking for somebody to take her husband’s place.  It refers to the command in Deuteronomy 24:1-4.  “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.  And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.  And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”

Under the Law a divorced woman who had remarried could not go back to her first husband, and a woman who was not divorced was to be executed for committing adultery.  Though Judah had repeatedly turned to other gods, making it clear they wanted nothing to do with Him, God was still offering them the chance to come back to him. 

“Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.” (Jeremiah 3:2)

They have followed so many gods it is easier to count the places where they haven’t worshipped other gods than the places where they have.  Judah had been like a prostitute finding a place alongside one of the caravan routes waiting for the camel drivers to come so she can ply her trade.  They have polluted the entire land by their idolatry and sin. 

 “Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.  Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?  Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.” (Jeremiah 3:3-5)

Because of their sin and idolatry, God has prevented the spring showers to start the seed growing or the final rain that brings the crop to maturity, resulting in famine and hunger.   Like a determined prostitute, Judah has refused to even acknowledge they have done anything wrong.  If they would do so and ask his forgiveness, God would eagerly forgive them and take them back.  Instead, they have accused him of wrong doing and done everything they could against him.

“The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.  And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.  And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.  And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.  And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:6-10)

Josiah was the last good, godly king of Judah.  About a hundred years before, Israel had been conquered by the Assyrians and the people relocated to other countries.  They had seen who completely Israel had been destroyed because of their sin.  Josiah did his best to turn the people back to God, and the people went along with him as long as he was there to insist, but as soon as he died the resumed the idolatry and sin they had done before, worshipping idols of stone and wood rather than God.  They were not sincere in their worship of God although it looked quite impressive and many point to it as a great revival.    

“And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.  Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:11-13)

During the entire period of the kings, Israel had not even pretended to serve God, but had consistently served the idols.  Judah, on the other hand, had regularly made a big show of turning to God while not completely giving up their idols.  God was more pleased with Israel than with Judah because at least they had been consistent so he could effectively deal with their sin.  It is essentially the same thing the Lord said about the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:14-16.  “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”  There is more hope for those who have clearly refused God than for those who just play Christian.

Jeremiah was to go into Israel and tell them that if they would turn back to God and take responsibility for their sin, and admit they had been unfaithful and disobedient, God would forgive them.  The promise is also very similar to the promise the lord gave the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:18-20. “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” By simply turning to god, the Laodicean Church could receive God’s blessings. 

“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.  And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.

At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.  In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.” (Jeremiah 3:14-18)

God is still married to Israel, and if they will turn to Him, will bring a small remnant, one from a city or two from one family back to Israel and Jerusalem where they will be taught and led by their pastors or rabbis to serve the Lord, along with people from all the other nations.  When that time comes, there will be no focus on the Ark of the Covenant and keeping the law, because Christ will be there in Jerusalem.  Judah and Israel will be reunited, and they all will come back from the northern lands where they have been captives to the land of Israel.  The only thing holding them back is their refusal to acknowledge their sin and stop doing it.