Reflection on Jeremiah 2

"I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness in a land not sown...What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?...I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination...my people have change their glory for that which does not profit."Jeremiah 2:2-8

It is almost too ridiculous to imagine: a people chosen by the Almighty God himself to be set apart and holy, to be delivered into a beautiful promise land with everything they could ever need or want, and what do they do? They complain, they gripe, they decide that the covenant between the people of Israel and the LORD was not worth the honor of commitment! They traded glory for rags, a true Living God for silent trees and lifeless stones. A faithless bride playing whore with many lovers, and for what reason? God had only required relentless love and devoted service. His laws were for their benefit. He had delivered them from many evils and given them life abundant - a new home, a new life, a prosperous nation. And yet they turned, "and went after worthlessness, and became worthless." (2:5)

"Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsake me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."Jeremiah 2: 13

Be appalled. Be shocked. For it is not only at the Israelites who have done such an evil, but God's people throughout time. Do we not also throw away the riches of abundant life in Christ to chase after worthless things? Pleasure, purpose, glory for ourselves? Our society and even parts of the Church are full of earthly wealth but empty of the things of God. The sad part is that it is not because God has removed himself from us, but that we have turned away from him - turned to other great loves.

What is it that would cause us to turn our back on the Only True God, rejecting His outstretched arms offering life unlike we've ever known, offering salvation and eternity with Him, offering overwhelming love, security protection, peace, purpose....but our own selfish desire to be our own masters?

Even if we have not fully turned away, how many of God's children live in half-committed relationship? What holds us back from ultimate freedom, abundant life on earth and in eternity, relentless love and ultimate devotion to our Abba Father, Creator and Redeemer?

How long will God's people reject The Fountain of Living Waters to sip out of empty wells?

Sovereign Lord, have mercy on us, a stubborn, selfish and sinful people who have chosen to serve other things instead of sharing in your glory, and have chosen worthlessness over the gift of Life you offer. Thank you for your forgiveness, Father, that you have promised redemption and salvation for those who return to you. Thank you for your patience for our inconsistency and wandering hearts. May we be a generation that seeks your face, that loves you with a steadfast love, and serves you with the utmost of our lives in complete obedience.

"Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord.

I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord.

I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord.

Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness."

Jeremiah 3:12-14, 22