Jeremiah 2, (24-BSG-2J)/ Questions And Answers.

[1] “The Word of the LORD” came to me –(2:1). “This phrase introduces a series of prophecies extending from ch. 2 to ch. 6. This series is a retrospect of Israel’s past, and shows how present conditions are the result of past failures. The prophecy was given during the first ten years of Jeremiah’s ministry (627/26–c. 616 B.C.), probably in the 13th year of Josiah.” (SDA BC 4:357–358).

[2] In what terms did God remind Judah and Israel of His former kindness?— (2-3). “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown. Israel was holiness to the Lord, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 2:2–3, NKJV)

• “Verses 1–3 serve as an introduction to the messages that follow in 2:4–6:30. Throughout his ministry Jeremiah frequently reminded his hearers that his messages were God’s words and not his own. In these three verses he reminded his audience three times that God was the source of his message.” [F. B. Huey, Jeremiah, Lamentations, The New American Commentary, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 16:62].

[3] How was Israel holy and the firstfruits of [God’s] harvest? (2:3) “Holy means set apart for special use. Israel was chosen by God—set apart as the nation through which all other nations would be blessed. And like the first vegetation brought in during the harvest, Israel would be the first nation among many to receive God’s special blessings.” (NIV Quest Study Bible Notes)

[4] What did Israel do when the LORD brought them into the land? (2:7) They defiled the land by worshiping idols.

[5] In what terms did God expostulate with His people on their rebellion? (2:5–8)

1. They had gone far from the LORD (apostacy);
2. The had followed idols (false worship);
3. They had become idolaters (idolatry);
4. They had lost tract of who God was—(His holiness; His Law; His judgments).
5. The had forgotten their history- momentous deliverance from the Egyptians;
6. The had forgotten providential care as they journeyed in through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, Through a land of drought and the shadow of death!
7. When they entered Canaan, they defiled Yahweh’s Land [My land] and made His heritage “an abomination.”
8. There was a widespread apostacy among their leaders— Political leaders (rulers) as well as Religious leaders (priests, prophets).
9. The Religious leaders who should have called Israel to faithfulness, were unfaithful.
10. The Priests, whose primary job was to teach the Law (Deut. 33:10) –abandoned God’s Law themselves. NOTE – traditionally, priests had knowledge of the details of the Law. They were expected to teach the people accordingly (Deut. 17:9–11; 33:10; Jer. 8:8; 18:18).
11. The Prophets, whose job was to declare “Thus says the LORD” abandoned the LORD: They began to prophesy through (by means of) Baal; and “walked after things that do not profit.” —[The Baal is here used as a representative of the idol-gods, in antithesis to Jehovah; sometimes “Baalim,” or the Baals, is used instead (e.g. Jer. 23; 9:13), each town or city having its own Baal (“lord”)] — The Pulpit Commentary, 1:23. NOTE – [See section (24-BSG-2Y) below, for Further Commentary].

[6] So, how did God respond? (2:9–12) He basically filed a lawsuit! God presented His case against Israel for breaking the covenant relationship. The imagery used here is that of “a court case” to focus on the seriousness of Israel’s sin. God is essentially saying “I am filling a case against you,” — A legal term for presenting a lawsuit.

• Jeremiah 2:9–12 (NKJV) — 9 “Therefore I will yet bring charges against you,” says the Lord, “And against your children’s children I will bring charges. 10 For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see, Send to Kedar and consider diligently, And see if there has been such a thing. 11 Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit. 12 Be astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the Lord.
• “Since the people were unable to respond with accusations against God, he now became their accuser. They did what no other nation had done—they abandoned their God. Other nations who worshiped nonexistent gods sometimes changed their rank in the pantheon or added other gods, but they did not abandon their gods. By contrast Israel, who worshiped the true and living God, had abandoned him to serve worthless idols. God challenged the people to search from west to east—Kittim (Cyprus) to Kedar (home of Bedouin tribes in the Syro-Arabian desert)—for evidence to challenge his accusation. Such faithlessness should cause the heavens to be “appalled” or horrified.” [F. B. Huey, Jeremiah, Lamentations, The New American Commentary, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 16:63].

[7] “For My people have committed two evils.” What two grave sins did the people commit? (2:13). They had forsaken God, the Fountain of living waters. They had hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water.

[8] What consequences was there for these sins? (2:15-16). They had been enslaved, plundered, and conquered by oppressive nations (lions); They had been oppressed by Egypt’s two major cities – (Noph and Tahpanhes). NOTE – These cities are now known as Memphis and Daphne.

[9] What further reasons for Israel suffering is pointed out here? (2:17-18). They had forsaken the LORD; They had trusted Egypt and Assyria for security through alliances: They had failed to trust and call upon their God.

[10] Notice a solemn warning (about sin) and bitter consequences for abandoning the Lord (2:19). How did God explain to Judah and Israel that their calamities originated from their crimes? Is there any cost, or price to pay when we deliberately disobey God? Yes.

• Look at this verse carefully: “Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken the Lord your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 2:19, NKJV)
• “In many cases, the consequences for choosing sin are bound up in the sin itself. God doesn’t have to add punishment to many sins, because they include punishment in their results (see Rom. 1:27).” (NKJV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes/ Life Lessons on Jeremiah 2:19)

[11] How did God shew them that their conduct was a breach of solemn engagements? (2:20) “For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ When on every high hill and under every green tree, You lay down, playing the harlot.” (Jeremiah 2:20, NKJV)

• “Israel’s infidelity to her husband-lord is frequently called harlotry. The figure is rendered more forceful because of the cultic prostitution frequently practiced in Baal worship, and probably alluded to here (cf. Ezk 16; Hos 1–3).” [Charles F. Pfeiffer, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: Old Testament, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), Je 2:20].

NOTE — 2:20–28 “Five images in this section describe Judah’s breaking the covenant with God: (1) a beast that has broken loose from its yoke, (2) choice grapes that have gone wild, (3) a stain that will not wash off, (4) a young female camel that cannot walk straight, and (5) a wild donkey in heat, sniffing the wind for a male companion.” [Walter Kaiser Jr., CSB Study Bible: Notes, 2017, 1142–1143].

[12] In what terms did God declare to Judah the deepness of the stain produced by their sin? (2:22). “For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord God.” (Jeremiah 2:22, NKJV)

• NOTE – lye was a strong mineral cleaner. much soap, a strong vegetable alkali. Judah’s iniquity was deep-rooted. In other words, God is saying, “Even though you perform righteousness outwardly, this does not conceal from me your secret iniquity, which cannot be cleansed by physical means.” [The Wycliffe Bible Commentary/ Jer. 2:20].

[13] In what terms does God point out to Israel the fruitlessness of idolatry? (2:26–27) “As the thief is brought to shame when he is caught, so shall the house of Israel be brought to shame—they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets— [Inasmuch as] they say to a tree, You are my father, and to a stone, You gave me birth. For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces; but in the time of their trouble, they say, Arise [O Lord] and save us!” (Jeremiah 2:26–27, AMP)

[14] What is Yahweh’s reproof to the men of Judah relative to their gods? (2:28) —“But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise if they can save you in the time of your trouble! For [as many as] the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. [Surely so many handmade idols should be able to help you!]” (Jeremiah 2:28, AMP)

[15] What important question does God asks next? (2:29-30) —“Why do you complain and remonstrate against My wrath? You all have rebelled and revolted against Me, says the Lord. In vain have I stricken your children (your people); they received no discipline (no correction). Your own sword devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.” (Jeremiah 2:29–30, AMP)

• “God’s question implies that the people were complaining against him, but he had rejected their complaints. He was the one who should have been accusing them because they had all rebelled against him. Past punishment had been useless (“in vain,” the same word used in Exod 20:7). They were like incorrigible children who refuse to be chastened by discipline. One evidence of their rebellion was their killing of the prophets in order to silence their “voice of conscience” (1 Kgs 18:4, 13; 19:10; 2 Chr 24:21; Neh 9:26; Amos 2:11–12; Jer 26:20–23; Matt 23:34–35).” [F. B. Huey, Jeremiah, Lamentations, The New American Commentary, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 16:68].

[16] Quote the words Yahweh. How did He plead with Judah to come back to Him? – “O generation [that you are]! Behold, consider, and regard the word of the Lord: Have I been a wilderness to Israel [like a land without food]? A land of deep darkness [like a way without light]? Why do My people say, We have broken loose [we are free and will roam at large]; we will come no more to You? Can a maid forget and neglect [to wear] her ornaments, or a bride her [marriage] girdle [with its significance like that of a wedding ring]? Yet My people have forgotten Me, days without number.” (Jeremiah 2:31–32, AMP)

[17] “Why do you go around and wander so much changing your way?” (Jer. 2:36a). After this unanswered question, what sentence does God, as judge, immediately pronounce? — “You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria. From [Egypt] also you will come away with your hands upon your head, for the Lord has rejected those in whom you confide, and you will not prosper with [respect to] them.” (Jeremiah 2:36b–37, AMP)

The Gospel’s Voice/ Bible Study Guide/ Jeremiah 2, (24-BSG-2J)/ Questions And Answers.