epcblog

Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Monday, January 07, 2008

Jeremiah 3

In Deuteronomy 24 there was a provision in the Law concerning divorce. If a man found some indecency in his wife and gave her a certificate of divorce, if she then went and married a second man who also gave her a certificate of divorce or died, her first husband was not permitted to take her back again as his wife. The reason given is that such casual behavior concerning marriage is an abomination before the Lord which would bring sin upon the land. We know that the ultimate marriage is that between God and his people. Yet how often have they been unfaithful to Him?

God sent Israel away, as in a divorce, because of her spiritual adultery. By spiritual adultery I mean that the people worshiped other gods rather than the real God, and they gave their love to these other gods. They were supposed to love the Lord with their whole hearts, but they became involved in the worship of the gods of other nations. God sent the northern kingdom away through the Assyrians. In a way this was a divorce. But now, could they repent and come back to Him again after they have been with other gods? According to the marriage law of Deuteronomy 24, God could not take them back, but here the symbolism of marriage and marriage law must give way to the greater healing news of God’s mercy to repentant sinners. If they would truly repent, He says that He would take them back.

In the beginning of this chapter God’s people seem completely unwilling to admit their sin and to return to God. They are said to have the stubborn forehead of a woman who sells her body to anyone for money. They refuse to admit what is obvious. They refuse to be ashamed. They cry out to God wondering why He won’t help, but they seem unwilling to admit the truth that they really know.

What is amazing is that God still indicates that He will accept them when they come back. He talks to His people as two sisters. One is the northern kingdom of Israel and the other is the southern kingdom of Judah. Israel was sent away first by God. Even though Judah saw what happened to Israel, Judah sinned even more than Israel. Still God calls them both to return back to Him, and indicates that some small number will do this. They will apparently sincerely turn away from their sin and come home.

God then moves from this situation in the 6th century before Christ and speaks forward to a much later day using the expression “in those days” to talk about this distant future time. In those days, God will give shepherds or pastors who will feed his people with knowledge and understanding. In those days no one will care about the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant, the holiest object of Old Covenant worship. In those days, not only will Israel and Judah come home to God, but all the nations will gather to the throne of the Lord.

What is so very exciting about this prophesy is that God says that His people will then come to Him with true hatred of their sin and with hope in the god of salvation. This is what is happening throughout the New Covenant era. God has sent forth his messengers everywhere; from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. He has filled them with the Word of His Son Jesus, the one descendant of the tribe of Judah who could fully atone for our sins. During His days on earth He led previously faithless people to the way of faith in Him. He healed our faithlessness and showed us the falseness of our pretense of religion and our orgies of idolatry. He has not only given us the strength to tell the truth about our sin, He has also accomplished our redemption through the sacrifice of His life on the cross, taking away our guilt.

This is an extraordinary thing that God has done in giving His Son for the unworthy. What good were we to Him? We were worse than useless, serving His enemies and hating His Word. We were like some foolish prostitute, unwilling to admit our shame, and unwilling to come back to the safety of a loving home. Not only has Christ loved us, He is engaged in a great work of healing us.

What Jeremiah refers to as “in those days” have now come about through Christ and the preaching of His message. As we embrace His truth, a miracle of healing takes place. Brazen enemies are softened to hear a message of heart-warming love. We receive that Word again today, and walk away from our former life of deep sin, knowing that we are safe again in the house of the Lord.

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posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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