JEREMIAH 2:1 Israel’s Covenantal Adultery. These five related messages were probably delivered during Josiah’s reign (Jeremiah 3:6). Jeremiah declares that God’s chosen people commit spiritual adultery by loving idols more than the living God. Thus, they have broken their covenant vows and made them... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:3 ISRAEL WAS HOLY TO THE LORD, set apart for his purposes, just as Jeremiah was set apart for the Lord’s purposes in his role as a prophet (Jeremiah 1:5). Israel was the FIRSTFRUITS OF HIS (God’s) HARVEST, his chosen and blessed people. God protected Israel. ALL WHO ATE O... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:5 The Israelites have been faithless to God even though God was faithful to Israel. They sought out lifeless, and therefore “worthless,” idols (Isaiah 44:9; Jeremiah 14:22; Jeremiah 51:17). As a result they BECAME WORTHLESS covenant partners. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:6 The Israelites did not seek the Lord, the one whose sovereign power brought them UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, the one who led them through A LAND OF DESERTS, PITS, DROUGHT, DARKNESS, and desolation. They quickly forgot who had saved and sustained them. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images =... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:8 Three groups (PRIESTS, SHEPHERDS, and PROPHETS) bear heavy responsibility for this unfaithfulness. The priests HANDLE THE LAW but DID NOT KNOW God. Their lack of faith meant they could not teach the people the knowledge of God (Hosea 4:1). The shepherds, the nation’s ru... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:9 Given this situation, God will CONTEND with Israel. This word introduces the idea of a lawsuit (Jeremiah 25:31; compare Hosea 4:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:10 God’s people have done worse than idolaters. Most nations are loyal to their lifeless deities, but Israel has forsaken THEIR GLORY (that is, Yahweh and the covenants) FOR THAT WHICH DOES NOT PROFIT. Such rebellion simply makes no sense. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.get... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:12 The HEAVENS, called as witnesses in the lawsuit (see note on v. 9), are shocked by Israel’s abandoning the FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS for BROKEN CISTERNS THAT CAN HOLD NO WATER. Palestine has three sources of water. The best is fresh running water, such as flows from a... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:15 The LIONS are nations like Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon that have made Israel’s cities lie IN RUINS, WITHOUT INHABITANT (vv. Jeremiah 2:18, Jeremiah 2:36). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=im [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:20 At the time of the exodus God broke Israel’s BONDS. He set the Israelites free, yet they refused to SERVE him. Indeed, UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE, the places where local idols were worshiped, the people BOWED DOWN LIKE A WHORE. This stark language is meant to cause shame.... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:21 God PLANTED Israel in the Promised Land (Exodus 15:17) out of PURE SEED. Yet Israel has become a WILD VINE that bears bad fruit. For the image of Israel as a vine and vineyard, see notes on Isa. 5:1; Ezekiel 15:1. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:28 LET THEM ARISE. God challenges the Israelites to have their helpless, lifeless gods save them. After all, they worship as many GODS as they have CITIES! ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:34 Covenant infidelity always leads to ethical infidelity. God has FOUND THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE GUILTLESS POOR on Israel’s SKIRTS (Amos 4:1). Israel has brought false charges against the poor for her own gain. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (v... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH—NOTE ON JEREMIAH 2:36 Israel changes her political course of action (v. Jeremiah 2:18) very easily, but whoever she chooses (whether EGYPT or ASSYRIA) will bring her SHAME. Placing one’s HANDS on one’s HEAD was a sign of grief brought on by sexual shame. Tamar did so when Amnon raped her (2... [ Continue Reading ]