Good day Believers in the finished work of Christ. You are all welcome to another brand-new day. Glory to God for the gift of life.
This is Part 493 of our series of studying and understanding the Bible, titled:
Prophet Jeremiah Took Judah Down A Memory Lane…
From verse 1 of Chapter 2 of the book of Jeremiah, we will read about how Judah was reminded of their first love when they were still a united Israel.
Let’s recall that the nation of Israel remained united as a nation until early 10th century, when they were split into two kingdoms – Northern and Southern Kingdoms, because of their sins.
The northern kingdom retained the name “Israel,” and has Samaria as its capital; while the southern kingdom was named Judah with its capital situated in Jerusalem and ruled by king David and his descendants, based on God’s promise for David.
Therefore, in this chapter 2, Prophet Jeremiah was reminding the people of Judah about their first love for God when they were still a united Israel.
Let’s read some few verses…
Jeremiah 2:1-
1 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I remember [earnestly] the lovingkindness and devotion of your youth, Your time of betrothal [like that of a bride during the early years in Egypt and again at Sinai], When you followed Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.
3 Israel was holy [something set apart from ordinary purposes, consecrated] to the Lord, The first fruits of His harvest [in which no outsider was allowed to share]. All who ate of it [injuring Israel] became guilty; Evil came on them,” says the Lord.’ ”
4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
5 Thus says the Lord, “What injustice or unrighteousness did your fathers find in Me, That they have wandered far from Me And [habitually] walked after emptiness and futility and became empty?
6 They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of the deep darkness [of the shadow of death], Through a land that no man passed through And where no man lived?’
7 I brought you into a plentiful land To eat its fruit and [enjoy] its good things.
But you came and defiled My land And you made My inheritance repulsive.
8 [Even] the priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who deal with the law [given to Moses] did not know Me. The rulers and shepherds also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by [the authority and in the name of] Baal And walked after [idolatrous] things that did not benefit [them].
Hmm… What a soul-touching reminiscence. Even the priests did not deem it fit to find their ways back to God, let alone leading people back to Him. It was a serious political and religious tragedy.
The situation described in Jeremiah chapter 2 is very similar to what was recorded in the book of revelation against the church in Ephesus. Let’s read Revelation 2:4-5
4. But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].
5 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.
Although they started well with God during their exodus from Egypt, which marked their infant political and religious state, which we can also refer to as a shadow of the new birth every Believer has in the new covenant reality in Christ Jesus. They got married to God at Mount Sinai (through the mediation of the Law of Moses Exodus 19 and Exodus 24), while we believers got married to God in Zion (through Christ Jesus our Mediator Heb 12:22). The same way Israel was a “nobody” before their encounter at mount Sinai is also the same way we were nobody before we encountered Christ. Christ Jesus made us somebody (1Peter 2:10).
Having described their first love for God, he then rebuked them for being ungrateful to the point that their acts were even worse than that of the heathen, which made the heavenly bodies e.g stars, moon and the entire planetary bodies shook with horror, because of what Judah did. Let’s read Jer 2:12. Consequently, their sins became the main reason those calamities befell them. Jer 2:17.
Did you know that despite how grievous the charges brought against them were, they still proved they were innocent? Let’s read verse 35.
35 Yet you keep saying, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger has turned away from me.’
Behold (listen very carefully), I will bring you to judgment and will plead my case against you
Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
Dear reader, is there sin you are still struggling with at the moment?
Is there anything at all that is overwhelming you preventing you from seeing the eternal Love of God for your life? Simply let it go and embrace the Love of God, expressed in Christ. Don’t delay your Salvation. Now is the day of Salvation. Receive Christ into your life and ask Him to remove that load of sin off your neck. Remember, He is our burden bearer, and this is the reason He even went to Calvary to die in the first place and He paid the price for our sins in full so that we are not condemned. Repent now, by changing the way you think, and the Holy Spirit will transform you beyond your wildest imagination.
Let us pray:
- By the authority in the name of Jesus, I declare your faith has made you whole and your sins are forgiven, in Jesus name.
- I declare you are set at liberty and the devil cannot touch you or any member of your family in Jesus name.
- I declare a way out for you. Every barrier is broken before you and you are crossing over to the next higher level. All the good things you have lost before now, be restored unto you, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: 2 Chronicles Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4 with Psalm 102.
I call you blessed now and always.
Monday August 3, 2020 (DDMI)
