1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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:
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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.
19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.
21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God.
22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.
Jeremiah Chapter 3 is a profound and complex chapter in the Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV). The chapter is a continuation of God's message through Jeremiah to the people of Judah and Israel. The central themes of the chapter include Infidelity, Repentance, and Restoration. The chapter is rich in metaphorical language, with God often comparing His relationship with His people to a marital relationship. God uses the prophet Jeremiah to communicate His displeasure at the unfaithfulness of His people but also emphasizes His readiness to forgive and restore if they genuinely repent.
In the first part of Jeremiah Chapter 3, God accuses Israel and Judah of infidelity. He uses the metaphor of an adulterous wife to describe their unfaithfulness. They have turned away from Him, breaking the covenant they had made. Israel, represented as the northern kingdom, is depicted as the first to indulge in idolatry, leading to her 'divorce' from God. Despite witnessing Israel's punishment, Judah, the southern kingdom, follows the same path of idolatry, even surpassing Israel in her unfaithfulness. God's disappointment and anger towards their sin are evident, but so is His heartbreak. This section of the chapter emphasizes the severity of their sin and God's deep sadness over their rejection of Him.
Despite their infidelity, God, in His mercy and love, calls His people to repentance. He urges them to acknowledge their guilt and return to Him. God's call to repentance is not merely about feeling sorry or making amends but involves a complete turning away from sin and a return to faithfulness. This part of the chapter underscores God's readiness to forgive. He promises to accept them back if they genuinely repent and return to Him. This shows God's enduring love and mercy towards His people, even in their unfaithfulness.
In the final part of Jeremiah Chapter 3, God gives a beautiful picture of restoration and renewal. He promises to bring His people back from the lands where they have been scattered and to bless them abundantly. This restoration is not just physical but also spiritual. God promises to give His people 'shepherds after His own heart' who will guide them with knowledge and understanding. He also promises a new covenant, different from the one they broke. This covenant will be written on their hearts, signifying an internal transformation and a personal relationship with God. This part of the chapter paints a picture of hope and reassurance, showing that God's plans for His people are not for disaster but for a future and a hope.
Jeremiah Chapter 3 is a powerful message of God's unending love and faithfulness towards His people. Despite their repeated unfaithfulness, God is willing to forgive and restore them if they genuinely repent. The chapter serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for genuine repentance. It also reassures us of God's readiness to forgive and His promise of restoration and renewal. The chapter beautifully captures the heart of God - a heart that is deeply grieved by sin but is also full of love, mercy, and grace. It shows that no matter how far we have strayed, God is always ready to welcome us back if we genuinely repent and return to Him.
In conclusion, Jeremiah Chapter 3 is a powerful testament to God's enduring love and faithfulness. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin, the necessity for genuine repentance, and the promise of restoration for those who return to God. The chapter is a call to examine our lives, to turn away from sin, and to return to God, who is always ready to forgive and restore.
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