Unfaithful Israel

Jeremiah 03:06-18 (New International Version)

Unfaithful Israel

⁶ During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. ⁷ I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. ⁸ I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. ⁹ Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. ¹⁰ In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the LORD.

¹¹ The LORD said to me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. ¹² Go, proclaim this message toward the north:
" 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD,
'I will frown on you no longer,
for I am merciful,' declares the LORD,
'I will not be angry forever.

¹³ Only acknowledge your guilt—
you have rebelled against the LORD your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods
under every spreading tree,
and have not obeyed me,' "
declares the LORD.

¹⁴ "Return, faithless people," declares the LORD, "for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. ¹⁵ Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. ¹⁶ In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the LORD, "men will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. ¹⁷ At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. ¹⁸ In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance.

I. Core Message

Content:

1) God lets Jeremiah sees the betrayal of Israel.” (v6-7a)

2) God lets Jeremiah sees that Judah follows her sister Israel, and even becomes worse. (v7b-11)

3) God calls Jeremiah and asks him to proclaim his message to Israel. God says, “Return, and acknowledge your gilt.” (v12-14)

4) God will give Israel shepherds after his own heart who will guide the country. (v15-16)

5) God promised that the two countries will again combine, and return to Jerusalem to glorify the God. (v17-18)

Theme:

1. Betrayal and unfaithfulness.
2. Return!
3. Blessings that comes after returning.

II. Who are God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?

1. God who reveals. (v6)
2. God who is betrayed. (v6)
3. God who hopes his people will repent. (v7,v12, v13-14)
4. God who gives certificate of divorce to people who betray him. (v8)
5. God who calls to people to stand with him. (v12)
6. God whose mercy is forever. (v12)
7. God who gives shepherds (leaders). (v15)
8. God who is worthy of worships. (v17)

III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations, and warnings?)

Israel is defeated by Assyria, and many people were taken from their homeland into exile. Judah should have learned an example from Israel and should return right away to God. However, they do not. This message is the crying of Jeremiah on Israel.

1. Have we seen or not? (v6)

“During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there.” (v6)

In order to help Jeremiah, God firstly lets him know how the people are spiritually. God keeps reminding him, “Have you seen or not? As a leader or as a servant of God, he should have spiritual eyes, and be able to see clearly about his disciples. For example, do we see the future in the church? Do we see the future in the family?

Reflection: Do I see the future of the nation, the future of the church, and the future of the family? What have I seen?

2. Sisters who betray and being unfaithful (v6-11)

I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. (v8-9a)

According to Jeremiah’s message, we called Israel as the older sister, and call Judah as the younger sister. Both sisters betray God, but in different ways.

1. Israel: betray, faithless, leaves God, does not believe in God.
2. Judah: unfaithful, never leaves God but being dishonest

This presents us a serious problem, it is: The problem is less complicated when comes to people who are faithless in God, like Israel. What’s worse lays on people who do not return to God with all their heart but only in pretense.

When it comes to today’s circumstances, the problem is less complicated when comes to people who do not believe in God. What’s worse lays on people who pretend to believe in God, who join the sermons and who serve a lot; however, they do not come to God with all their heart. They show dishonesty instead.

Reflection: What kind of person am I in God’s eyes? Am I obedience? Faithless? Unfaithful?

3. Calling : Return!
   Jeremiah declares God’s word to Israel, “Return, faithless Israel. I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful. I will not be angry forever.” (v12) “Return, faithless people, for I am your husband.” (v14a)

Even though Israel is defeated by Assyria, God still declares his unchanging love toward the north through Jeremiah. This shows that he will not forever hold his anger. Therefore, if we are willing to acknowledge our guilt, willing to repent, and do not worship the idols, God will accept us. God is like a merciful Father who is waiting for his son who is away from home.

Reflection: Am I away from God? Can we hear his calling?

4. The shepherds after God’s heart

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. (v15)

In this passage, “shepherds” refers not only to pastors, it also has the meaning of “rulers.” It is like the sheep needs the shepherds, and the people need leaders. Nations, churches, and families all need “shepherds”

If the leaders of the nations, churches, and families can understand God’s word and follow; then, they will certainly be blessed. In other word, they can also lead the group to the wrong way. Thus, God talks through Jeremiah: I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.

Reflection: Have I prayed for the leaders of my nations and my city? Have I prayed for the pastors in church, and the elderly in the family?

5. Blessing that comes after returning (v15-18)

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. ¹⁶ In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the LORD, "men will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. ¹⁷ At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. ¹⁸ In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance. (v15-18) When Israel decides to return, God promises the following blessings:

1. Give leaders who follow God’s heart: I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
2. The land that will be able to feed more people: when your numbers have increased greatly in the land
3. God will live with the nation: men will no longer say, “ The ark of the covenant of the Lord--- They will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord.
4. Blessing that nations honours: all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the lord
5. All houses join together: In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance.

When we betray God, we lose everything, the nation is also lost to other country. However, when we acknowledge our guilt and repent, everything will be changed. God promises more blessings and they will come to them.

Reflection: According to the passage, what is the difference between betrayal and returning? What kind of choice should I make?







Translated by Irene T.