Jeremiah 2 - 10.24.25

Scripture

Jerimiah 2:1-3

“The word of the Lord came to me: “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

This is what the Lord says: I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,” declares the Lord.”

Observation

When Jeramiah was writing this letter, Israel was divided into 2 nations, the northern which was Israel and southern which was Judah. Judgement had already come upon Isreal and was taken captive. Jeremiah was in Judah, the southern nation. Judah turned its back on God and He was asking why have you forgotten me. Judah had turned to idol worship. They forgot the God who brought them out of Egypt, from the wilderness to the promised land. God was about to use Judah’s enemies to pass judgement on Judah.

How does this relate to us now?  When our country was founded, they based the Government on the word of God. But nearly 250 years later we see the wickedness in many decisions of our government such as abortion, taking the Ten Commandments out of schools, and removing the cross in certain areas, and allowing all types of marriages. Many churches preach a different Gospel that certain sins are not sins, that Scripture was interpreted incorrectly from years ago, or that is not what God meant. The truth is we lost our first love. We don’t read and know the Scriptures like we should. We have churches that focus on entertaining the congregation and do not condemn sin.  A person I knew from high school recently post in Facebook “I am marked safe from the rapture.”

Application

It was just last week in our Bible reading in Revelation 2:4-5, God said “you have forsaken the love you had at first.  Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Jesus wants to be first. He wants our love for him to grow stronger. We see that many have forgotten what it was like to love Christ with their whole heart. How do we start our day? Is Christ first? When is your first prayer of the day? When do you read any of his Word? Do we seek Jesus daily?  In Matthew 6:33 it says “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Have we truly surrendered and submitted to Jesus who gave his life for us because he loved us? We have an advantage over the people in Jeremiah’s time. Most of us have access to and can read the Scriptures. Most of us have a phone that can pull up the Bible. Our Pastors have said many times if you need a Bible, DSC can provide one.  Psalms 119:103 says “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

People that call themselves followers of Jesus, repent and do the things you did at first. Let us love God, love each other, make disciples, serve, give generously and forgive often. Let us become the Bride of Christ.

Prayer

Jesus, you are worthy to be praised daily, the one we should bow down daily, and give glory and honor to.  Forgive me when I do not put you first daily. Forgive me when I do not remember my first love. The things that I put ahead of you are idols. Open my eyes to see those things and help me repent of those things. Let me thirst for your living waters. Let me hunger for your daily bread. Thank you, Jesus! In Jesus name, Amen.

- Robert Oberg