Jeremiah 3

V 1–5: HARDENED HARLOTRY Although a divorced and remarried man is forbidden to return to his first wife, because that union would be considered to be adulterous, happily, the position is different for the backslidden people of God in their relationship with Him. His amazing grace will allow Him to take them back where there is real repentance and faith. In Israel’s case, however, she is hardened in the harlotry of her sin. V 6–11: REPENTANCE REFUSED Israel has not simply gone off with one other partner, but has played the harlot with many, in the spiritual wickedness of idolatry. Judah’s sin is even worse because Judah saw what her sister, Israel, did and, despite that, deliberately repeated her sister’s spiritual adultery. Worse still, she pretended to be repentant. V 12–22a: COMPASSIONATE COMMAND Jeremiah is commanded by God to go to the people of Israel, whom He regards as an unfaithful wife or as rebellious children, and tell them to avoid His anger by returning to Him. He will bless them and acknowledge them if only they will turn from their sins and return to Him. They will know Him as their Father again. God’s compassionate command is, ‘Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backsliding.’ The backsliding Christian also needs to obey that compassionate command. V 22b–25: SINFUL SHAME They acknowledge their sinful shame and realise the emptiness of the hope given by the idolatry they have practised in the mountains. Only God can save. They are covered by their reproach and disgrace, having sinned against God. They admit that their fathers and they have sinned and not obeyed God’s voice.