Turn Back to the Lord

Where is Jeremiah? Jeremiah is in the classic prophets. So Isaiah. Yeah. So there's Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, chapter two. Very helpful, dad. Yeah. Jeremiah, chapter two. Good morning. Good morning. Welcome to Coffee and Devotions. This morning we're going to be talking about first words of Jeremiah as a prophet. So why don't we have some coffee? We'll pray and we'll find out what Jeremiah's got to say.
No, thank you. Okay, that's fine. All right, so let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for the blessing it is to get to read your word and spend time together. Lord, we pray that you would please help us to read and understand. In Jesus' name, amen. Jeremiah chapter two.
Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem saying, thus says the Lord, I remember you, the kindness of your youth, What do you think? How does that sound to you? Wonderful. Yeah, right? Yeah, the Lord thinks wonderful about his people, doesn't he? Yeah, he remembers how they first were. You want to start reading at verse 4, and then maybe you can read 4 through like 13. Okay. Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord.
What injustice have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, have followed idols, and have become idolaters? Neither did they say, where's the Lord who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and the shadow of death, through a land that no one crossed and where no one dwelt. I brought you into a beautiful country to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.
The priests did not say, where is the Lord? And those who handle the law did not know me. The rulers also transgressed against me. The prophets prophesied by bail and walked after things that they do not profit. Therefore, I will yet bring charges against you, says the Lord, and against your children's children I will bring charges.
For past beyond the coast of Cyprus and sea, send two Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing. Has a nation changed its God? Which are not gods, but my people have changed their glory for what does not profit. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate, says the Lord, for my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and have hewn themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
All right, so he starts off in that section. What did he do wrong? And he tells them all the good things he did for them. He did all these wonderful things, but did they ever call out to him? No. Says no. So he brings a charge against them, and what's their charge?
They turned away from the fountain of living waters and made like, are cisterns almost like wells or something? Yeah, they would hold the water. But the cisterns leak. They have all the promise of holding water and refreshment in life, but if a cistern leaks, is it of any good? No. No, he says, if you went to Cyprus in the ocean, if you went as far as Keter, who changes their God, and yet I was this good to you, and you've left me. Yeah. All right, so I'm going to read 14 through 19.
Is Israel a servant? Is he a home-born slave? Why is he plundered? The young lions roared at him and growled. They made his land waste. His cities are burned without inhabitant. Also the people of Noth and Taphines have broken the crown of your head. Have you not brought this on yourself? In that you have forsaken the Lord your God when He led you away. And now why take the road to Egypt to drink the waters of Sihur? Or why take the road to Assyria to drink the waters of the river?
Your own wickedness will correct you, and your black slidings 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." What's he saying in that section? You've fallen very far from your former glory. Yeah. And he's saying, right, well, I go down to Egypt. So when he's talking about Noph and Taphines, right, this is down to Egypt. The crown on your head has been broken. And they did it. You lusted after the Assyrians and they've destroyed you. Why go to the river? Why go to Assyria? Why go to the Euphrates?
You want to read 20 through 25? were 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. Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality.
How then have you turned from me into the great plant. Degenerate plant. Degenerate plant of an alien vine. For though For though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me, says the Lord your God. Alright, so let's stop there. What is he saying in that section? You went from high to low. Yeah. Yeah, right?
So they're acting like they're worshiping God, but what are they actually doing? They're going to all the high places and they're committing spiritual adultery. It's like if somebody had a wife or a husband and they go off and they go sleep with other people. How can you say I am not polluted? I have not gone after the vials. See your way in the valley. Know what you have done.
You are a swift doomedary breaking loose in her ways. a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs at the wind in her desire. In her time of mating, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her mouth they will find her. Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst. But you said, there is no hope.
No, for I have loved aliens, and after them I will go." What's he saying there? that they're just doing their own thing. Yeah, they're just doing their own thing. Well, why don't we go ahead and stop there and we'll pick up next time. So, I have in my Bible, verse 11 underlined, my people have changed their glory for what does not profit. That sounds good. So what do you think your seat calling is? To not go your own way and be stupid like the Israelites. We might judge them as stupid, but my heart could want to do the same thing. So follow after the Lord. Ready to pray? Yep.
God, we thank you so much for the grace you have shown us in Jesus Christ. And Lord, we pray that we would not be like a wild vine going after others. But Lord, we pray that we would be engrafted into Christ and grow in him, abiding in him and bearing much good fruit. God, please do not let us commit spiritual adultery, but keep us faithful to you. In Jesus's name. Amen. Well, may God bless you and keep you. May you love the Lord your God alone with all your heart. We'll see you next time. Bye.