Backsliders

Jeremiah was a prophet who prophesied for 42 years, ministering from the reign of the last good king of Judah, Josiah, to the final destruction of the city of Jerusalem.

Politically, the region was going through many changes as the Assyrian Empire got smaller and Egypt, Babylon, the Medes, and the Persians, all tried to grab the remains of the Assyrian Empire. Jeremiah saw these events as directed by God who intended on bringing destruction to the wicked, His people included.

Jeremiah’s message in this context is clear. Babylon is coming. Repent and the coming invasion from the north won’t be as brutal. Keep with your wicked ways, and the destruction will be thorough.

In chapter two of this book, God sends Jeremiah and tells him what to say. I call this “The Case Against the Backslider.”

Jer 2:1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Jer 2:2 "Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying…”

God doesn’t tell Jeremiah to write a book and deliver it to Jerusalem; He commands Jeremiah to “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem…” As a result of preaching an unpopular message of the impending judgment, Jeremiah mocked and ridiculed; he was beat up, his books were burned and he was thrown in prison.

We still need some people today who will “Go and cry in the hearing” of people who need to hear the Lord’s Words. The Gospel is unpopular and needs to be heard. People still need to be told that they are in sin and need cleansing by the shed blood of the Savior.

Jeremiah was dispatched by God to “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem.”

Jer 2:2 "Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown.

In this verse God speaks to the children of Israel as He would a wife who went after other lovers. Later in chapter three God would say to His people:

“"Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD; "for I am married to you…” (Jeremiah 3:14 )

So in chapter two God begins to lament concerning his people’s backslidden condition. He was grieving that His people had turned their backs on Him and played the harlot.

God says “I remember you…” There are some things that we would like to forget. Obviously, here God is remembering the nation of Israel before she turned away from God to pursue other interests.

Perhaps there are some among us who have bitter memories of love gone sour. You would much rather forget the times when love was in full bloom because associated with these memories is hurt and pain.

“I remember you” says God to Israel. He goes on to say “I remember…the kindness of your youth.”

For many couples it is in the youth of marriage that everything is so nice. The husband opens the door for his new wife. The wife doesn’t mind keeping the home clean for her new husband. She cooks his favorite meals. They are constantly holding hands and cuddling up next to each other every chance they get.

There used to be a time when couples were on guard for the “seven-year-itch” But now research shows they are far more likely to separate after about two years of marriage. One in 12 couples is heading for the divorce courts after 24 months - more than double the figure for seven years.

God tells Israel that He remembers the kindness of her youth. Then He tells Israel He remembers the “love of her betrothal.” This was like the engagement of today but with a greater commitment. In fact the Jewish betrothal was binding like marriage. The actual marriage took place when their union was consummated on the wedding night.

It was during the betrothal that love blossomed. During this time the bridegroom would prepare a wedding chamber for the honeymoon. This chamber was typically built in the bridegroom's father's house or on his father's property. The wedding chamber had to be a beautiful place to bring the bride.

In Jeremiah 2:7 God tells Israel he had prepared for them a beautiful wedding chamber:

Jer 2:7 I brought you into a bountiful country, To eat its fruit and its goodness.

In other words, Israel was set. God had given her everything she could ever need. God had prepared the wedding chamber—it was a land “flowing with milk and honey.”

While the groom was preparing the wedding chamber, the bride was considered to be consecrated, set apart or "bought with a price". If she went out, she would wear a veil so others would know she was betrothed. During this time she prepared herself for the marriage. She likely had saved money all her life for this time. She would purchase expensive cosmetics and learn to apply them to make herself more beautiful for the bridegroom.