CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Jeremiah 2
Chapter 2 of 52
Chapter Overview
What happens in Jeremiah 2
God reminds Israel of their early love and devotion during the Exodus, then accuses them of abandoning him for worthless idols. Through a series of powerful images, God compares Israel to an unfaithful wife and challenges them to explain their terrible choices.
Scripture
Jeremiah 2
Israel's Early Devotion
Study note
God recalls the early days when Israel faithfully followed him through the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Like a bride devoted to her husband, the nation was loyal to God. Israel was set apart as holy to the Lord, and anyone who harmed them faced consequences.
1 The Lord gave me another message. He said, Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Go and shout this where everyone in Jerusalem can hear: The Lord says, 'I remember how loyal you were when we first started out together. You loved me the way a new bride loves her husband. You followed me through the empty wilderness, through land where nothing grows.'" 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 "Back then, Israel was set apart as something special to the Lord, like the first part of the harvest. Anyone who tried to hurt them got in serious trouble — disaster fell on those people," says the Lord. Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
God Questions Israel's Unfaithfulness
Study note
God asks what fault Israel found in him that caused them to wander away. He reminds them that he brought them through the dangerous wilderness and into a rich, fertile land. But instead of being thankful, the priests stopped seeking God, the leaders rebelled, and the prophets spoke in the name of the false god Baal. God compares this to trading a spring of fresh water for broken containers that cannot hold water.
4 Pay attention to what the Lord says, descendants of Jacob! Listen closely, every family in Israel! Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5 The Lord asks, "What did your ancestors find wrong with me that made them drift so far away? They ran after empty, useless idols and became empty and useless themselves." Thus saith the LORD, 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 "They never once asked, 'Where is the Lord who rescued us from Egypt? Where is the God who guided us through the wilderness — through a land of deserts and deep holes, through dry and deadly country where nobody travels and nobody lives?'" Neither said they, Where is the LORD 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 "I brought you into a rich, fertile land so you could enjoy its wonderful food and blessings. But the moment you arrived, you polluted my land with your sin. You turned my gift into something ugly and disgusting." And I brought you into a 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 never bothered to ask, 'Where is the Lord?' The people who taught my law didn't truly know me at all. The rulers turned against me. The prophets spoke messages from the false god Baal and ran after things that are totally worthless." 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 "Because of all this, I am bringing charges against you," says the Lord. "And I will bring charges against your children and grandchildren too." Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
10 "Sail across the sea to the shores of Cyprus and take a good look around. Send someone over to the land of Kedar and examine things carefully. See if anything like this has ever happened anywhere." For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11 "Has any nation ever traded its gods for different ones — even though those gods aren't even real? But my people have given up their glorious God and exchanged him for worthless idols!" 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 amazed at this, you heavens! Shake with horror!" says the Lord. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13 "My people have done two terrible things. First, they walked away from me — and I am like a spring of cool, fresh water that never runs dry. Second, they dug their own wells instead — but those wells are cracked and can't hold a single drop." For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
The Consequences of Turning Away
Study note
God points out that Israel has been attacked and plundered like a helpless slave. Egypt and Assyria have both harmed them. But this suffering is their own fault because they abandoned the Lord their God. By running to foreign nations for help instead of trusting God, they have brought disaster on themselves.
14 "Is Israel someone's slave? Was he born into a life of slavery? Then why has he been carried off like stolen goods?" Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
15 "Enemy armies have roared at him like lions, growling fiercely. They have wrecked his land. His towns are burned to the ground and emptied of people." The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16 "The soldiers from the Egyptian cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skull." Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
17 "Didn't you bring this trouble on yourself? You walked away from the Lord your God while he was trying to lead you down the right path." Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
18 "So now why are you running to Egypt to drink from the Nile River? Why are you heading to Assyria to drink from the Euphrates?" And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
19 "Your own wickedness is going to punish you. Your decision to turn away from me will teach you a painful lesson. Stop and realize how awful and bitter it is to abandon the Lord your God. You have no fear of me at all," says the Lord God of Heaven's Armies. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Israel Compared to a Wild Vine
Study note
God uses several vivid comparisons to describe Israel's unfaithfulness. He planted them as a choice vine, but they turned into a wild, worthless plant. They are like a restless young camel or a wild donkey, chasing after foreign gods. When trouble comes, they cry out to God, but their many homemade idols cannot save them.
20 "A long time ago, I broke the chains that held you down and set you free. But you told me, 'I won't serve you!' Then on every hilltop and under every shady tree, you lay down and worshipped other gods." For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
21 "I planted you like the finest grapevine, using only the best seeds. So how did you turn into a wild, worthless weed?" Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
22 "Scrub yourself with the strongest soap. Pile on the cleaning powder. Your guilt still shows before me," says the Lord God. For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
23 "How dare you claim, 'I'm not dirty! I haven't been chasing after those false gods called the Baals'? Look at how you behaved down in the valley! Think about what you've done. You're like a young camel that can't stop running around in every direction." 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;
24 "You're like a wild donkey living in the desert, sniffing the wind when she's looking for a mate. When she's in heat, nobody can hold her back. Any male looking for her won't have trouble finding her." 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.
25 "Stop running around until your sandals fall apart and your throat burns from thirst! But you said, 'It's hopeless! I'm in love with foreign gods, and I'm going to keep chasing them.'" 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.
26 "Just like a thief feels ashamed when caught, the people of Israel will be ashamed. Their kings, leaders, priests, and prophets — every one of 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,
27 "They talk to a piece of wood and say, 'You are my father.' They speak to a stone and say, 'You gave me life.' They show me their backs instead of their faces. But the minute trouble hits, they suddenly cry out, 'Come save us!'" 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.
28 "Well, where are all those gods you made for yourselves? Let them come save you when you're in trouble! After all, you have as many gods as you have towns, Judah." 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.
Israel Refuses to Learn
Study note
God challenges the people who claim to be innocent despite their obvious sins. Like a thief caught in the act, Israel is ashamed of its idol worship. They have killed innocent people and still claim to be without guilt. God warns that their alliances with Egypt and Assyria will bring only shame and humiliation.
29 "Why are you blaming me? Every one of you has turned against me," says the Lord. Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
30 "I tried to correct your children, but it made no difference. They wouldn't accept discipline. You even killed your own prophets, slaughtering them like a vicious lion." In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 "People of this generation, listen carefully to what the Lord is saying! Have I been like a desert to Israel? Have I been nothing but darkness to them? Then why do my people keep saying, 'We're free to go wherever we want! We're done coming back to you'?" 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?
32 "Does a young woman forget to put on her jewelry? Does a bride forget her wedding outfit? Yet my people have forgotten me for more days than anyone could count." Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 "You're so good at chasing after love! Even the most wicked women could take lessons from you." Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
34 "Your clothes are stained with the blood of innocent poor people. You didn't catch them breaking into your house. Yet even with all this evidence against you," 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.
35 "you still claim, 'I'm innocent. God can't possibly be angry with me.' But I will judge you because you keep insisting, 'I haven't done anything wrong.'" 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.
36 "Why do you keep switching back and forth, changing your mind about which country to trust? Egypt will disappoint you just like Assyria did." Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
37 "You will leave Egypt too, with your hands on your head in shame. Because the Lord has rejected the nations you depend on, and they won't be able to help you at all." 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.
Key Themes
Themes in Jeremiah 2
Spiritual adultery and idolatryGod's faithfulness contrasted with human unfaithfulnessThe futility of forsaking GodBroken cisterns versus living waterRefusal to acknowledge guilt
Apply This Today
Living Jeremiah 2
When we trade the living water of a relationship with God for broken cisterns of our own making, the result is always emptiness. Remembering God's past faithfulness should motivate us to remain devoted to Him rather than chasing after substitutes that cannot satisfy.
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