The Strand Study Bible

JEREMIAH 2:2

JEREMIAH 2:17

1144

2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was 1 holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall 2 offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. God’s faithfulness to His people is followed by His indictment of the nation 4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: 5 Thus saith the LORD, 3 What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? 6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD 4 that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7 And I brought you into a 5 plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. 8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew

me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. 9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead. 10 For pass over the isles of 6 Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. 11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me 7 the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled? 15 The 8 young lions roared upon 9 him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. 16 Also the children of 10 Noph and 11 Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. 17 Hast thou not procured this unto thy- self, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

1. Exo 19:5-6 2. or, “be held guilty” - Gen 12:3

3. Mic 6:2-3 4. Exo 12:51 5. Num 13:26-27 6. or, “Cyprus” 7. Jn 4:14 8. or, “Assyria” 9. or, “Israel” - II Ki 17:5-6

10. or, “Memphis” Note - Noph was Egypt’s first capitol c. 3100 BC. 11. Jere 43:7

2:2 God “remembered” when His people used to enjoy Him (Deut 2:7 and Heb 6:10). 2:3 Just as the firstfruits of the land belonged to Him (Exo 23:19 and Num 18:12-13), so Israel belonged to God as His “ first fruits ” among the nations (Exo 14/ Isa 44:2 ,24 & 46:3 & 49:15). 2:8 The “ pastors ” here are not religious leaders, but the political leaders of their day ( Jere 23:1-2 ). 2:9 Because Judah and Jerusalem failed to dwell upon God’s truths, they backslid and brought upon themselves judgment from the Because Judah and Jerusalem failed to dwell upon God’s truths and be grateful for what the Lord had done for them ( Deut 28:47 ), they backslid and brought upon themselves judgment from the LORD ( I will yet plead with you ). In order to avoid future chastisement, God’s people must remember four truths. They must remember: 1. their salvation ( Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt – vs 6) The best way to remember your salvation is to talk about it (witness). 2. to be thankful ( but when ye entered, ye defiled my land – vs 7) In everything give thanks ( I Thes 5:18 ). 3. the Word of God (that which led them to their salvation) ( and they that handle the law knew me not – vs 8) The medicine that got you well (I Pet 1:23), keeps you well (Psa 119:9,11 and Jn 17:17). Truth alone secures God’s presence (Psa 145:18). 4. that God is eternal ( I will yet plead with you…and with your children’s children will I plead – vs 9) In other words, God would still be around, long after they were gone. Seeing no one can outlive Him, no one should attempt to live without Him. To do so, means inevitable chastisement (Deut 8:15-20 and Psa 106:13-15). 2:10 In essence, the Lord told Judah, “Go to the west to Chittim (Cyprus) or to the east to Kedar (the Arab lands) and in all the heathen lands not one who forsakes his own gods for others will be found ( and see if there be such a thing ). My child (Israel) alone does this. 2:13 There were two reasons ( two evils ) why God was going to chasten Judah: 1. Abandonment ( they have forsaken me – vs 4-10) 2. Idolatry ( and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns – vs 11-37) NOTE – Judah had abandoned the refreshing waters of marriage with the Lord for the broken cisterns of the world. That is, she had left her Divine Husband for the surrounding nations and their gods.