JEREMIAH LESSON 2


     We will begin this lesson in Jeremiah 2:1 "Moreover the word of
the LORD came to me, saying,"

     The word "moreover" makes you think this is a continuation of
what we heard in chapter 1. The LORD is still speaking to Jeremiah
here.

     Jeremiah 2:2 "Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus
saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love
of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a
land [that was] not sown."

     This proclamation was for all the people. It was to be spoken so
every ear could hear. The Hebrews would listen, when Jeremiah began
with the statement "Thus saith the LORD".  God has not overlooked the
loyalty of their past. The LORD still loves His people. Their espousel
was to God. They were the wife of the LORD. They sought God, when they
were in Egypt and helpless. God led them, and cared for them 40 years
in the wilderness. They were always repentant and thankful, when God
performed a miracle for them, but they would soon fall back into
idolatry the minute the problem was over.

     Jeremiah 2:3 "Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the
firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil
shall come upon them, saith the LORD."

     Israel had been set aside by God to walk holy lives before Him.
They were to demonstrate His holiness here on the earth. Israel was
actually the firstfruits of God's family. They had first son status
with God. The firstborn son of each family had to be bought back with
silver shekels of redemption. The Levitical tribe took the place of
the firstborn son in the work in the temple. God blessed those who
blessed Israel, and cursed those who did evil to Israel. They were
God's chosen people.

     Jeremiah 2:4 "Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and
all the families of the house of Israel:"

     This message was sent to God's people. This message was not for
the heathen world. They are cautioned to listen carefully.

     Jeremiah 2:5  "Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your
fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked
after vanity, and are become vain?"

     God had made covenant with the Hebrews through Abraham. God had
kept His part of the covenant to the last letter. God is
Righteousness, and Holiness, and Truth. It is impossible for God to
lie.  Hebrews 6:18 "That by two immutable things, in which [it was]
impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" There
was no iniquity in God, so their fathers could not have found iniquity
in Him. Vanity causes people to want to please their flesh. This was
no different. They pleased their flesh by worshipping things they
could see with their physical eyes, or touch with their physical
hands. This is committing spiritual adultery.

     Jeremiah 2:6 "Neither said they, Where [is] the LORD that brought
us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness,
through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and
of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and
where no man dwelt?"

     They were not seeking the True God, who did all of these
miraculous feats for them. They worshipped whatever was convenient at
the time. Look at the list of things God had done for them that would
have left no doubt who God is. He parted the Red Sea to save them from
Pharaoh's men. He rained Manna from heaven to feed them. He brought
water from the Rock to quench their thirst. Their shoes and clothes
did not even wear out in 40 years. How could they even consider
another? With this True God as their heritage, why would they seek a
nothing {idol} who could not help them in any way? The Bible says,
Seek and ye shall find. They should seek this God of miracles who is
truly God.

     Jeremiah 2:7 "And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat
the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye
defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination."

     God brought them into a land of milk and honey. The promised land
was a fertile land. It was so fertile, one cluster of grapes had to be
carried by two men.  The land was almost like the garden of Eden, when
they took it. Their sin had caused the blessings of God to be removed
from them. They inter-married with non-believers and brought idols
into their homes.

     Jeremiah 2:8 "The priests said not, Where [is] the LORD? and they
that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against
me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after [things
that] do not profit."

     The priests should have stood up and stopped them. It appears the
priests and pastors did not take a stand for God. This is very similar
to the compromise that is going on in the church today. The pastors
and priests must uphold the Word of God. They must warn the people
when there is error in their belief. The priests and pastors must not
waver in teaching the Truth. It appears great compromise had entered
the church. The worst thing of all, is they listened to the prophets
of Baal, a false god. Elijah had shown, beyond a shadow of doubt that
Baal had no power at all. Baal was powerless to help them.  What good
could come of worshipping a false god? The answer is none.

     Jeremiah 2:9  "Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the
LORD, and with your children's children will I plead."

     God had given them every opportunity. He had sent prophets and
holy men to warn them of this very thing. God has still not given up.
He has now sent Jeremiah to plead with them to turn from their wicked
ways. This terrible captivity that comes upon them, is actually God
pleading with them to repent and come back to Him. God will not quit
trying to reach them. Christianity in Jesus was offered to the Jew
first, and then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

     Jeremiah 2:10 "For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and
send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a
thing."

     "Chittum" represents the lands away from the holy land and
"Kedar" represents the Arabs who live around them. The Arabs were
descended from Abraham through Ishmael. They were sons of the flesh,
and not of the Spirit.

     Jeremiah 2:11 "Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are]
yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for [that which]
doth not profit."

     They are challenged to look at the heathens who worship false
gods, and realize the false gods cannot, and will not help them. Why
would you trade the real God who helps you, for a god that is a
nothing that cannot help?

     Jeremiah 2:12 "Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be
horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD."

     "Be astonished" is just a way of expressing how ridiculous this
would be. The heavens would be astonished, and horribly afraid,
because they would know the results of such actions. Their desolation
would be overwhelming, when God removes His blessings from them.

     Jeremiah 2:13 "For my people have committed two evils; they have
forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out
cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

     The following is a statement made by Jesus about these living
waters. John 7:38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." The
children of Israel drank from this living water, when Moses struck the
Rock {Jesus} and the water flowed. The living water always proceeds
from the throne of God. Israel has abandoned God, who is their very
present help. He controls nature, and no other god can furnish natural
things to their people. They have abandoned God and started
worshipping things they made with their own hands. This is not only
idolatry, but idolatry from those who should know better. These
cisterns are things made with human hands and are very limited. The
first evil thing they did, was turn away from God. The second evil
thing they did, was turn to false gods.

     Jeremiah 2:14   "[Is] Israel a servant? [is] he a homeborn
[slave]? why is he spoiled?"

     Israel belonged to the family of God. They were slaves to no man.
The only One Israel was to serve was the most high God. They were made
slaves to the Babylonians to cause them to repent and turn back to
God.

     Jeremiah 2:15 "The young lions roared upon him, [and] yelled, and
they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant."

     Satan is like a roaring lion. This is specifically speaking of
those who come against Jerusalem, and destroy the city, and take the
citizens captive. The yelling just lets us know that this was not a
silent take-over. It was violent. They burned the cities, and took the
people captive. They could not have done this, had God not been angry
with Israel and allowed this to happen.

     Jeremiah 2:16 "Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have
broken the crown of thy head."

     This is speaking of two other areas that side with Babylon
against Judah.

     Jeremiah 2:17 "Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that
thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?"

     Now we see, they deserve what they get. They brought all of this
on themselves, when they turned their backs on God. When God was with
them, no one could win a battle against them. God fought their battles
for them. They turned away from God toward false gods. This happened
to them, because the protection God had around them was now removed.
They sinned, and now, they would pay for it. He had been with them and
led them every step they took. His power was shown to them many times,
when He destroyed their enemies before them. Now, He will not protect
them, because they have forsaken The LORD, who was their God.

     Jeremiah 2:18 "And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt,
to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of
Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?"

     "Egypt" symbolizes the world. They had chosen the world over God.
The water from Egypt, or from Assyria, will not give them what they
need. The world, and its system, will be of no help to them. God is
their only help, and they have left Him. They will just have to go
into captivity.








                         Jeremiah 2 Questions


1.  What does the word "moreover", in verse 1, cause you to think?
2.  Who was Jeremiah to cry to?
3.  What got the Hebrews attention?
4.  Their espousel was to _____.
5.  When had they sought God?
6.  Israel was ___________ unto the LORD.
7.  What were the Israelites to demonstrate on the earth?
8.  How was the firstborn of each family purchased back from God?
9.  God blessed those who _________ Israel.
10. Who does verse 4 tell us this message was for?
11. God is _____________, and _____________, and _______.
12. Quote Hebrews chapter 6 verse 18.
13. What does vanity cause a person to want to do?
14. List some of the miraculous things God had done for them.
15. When God brought them into the fruitful land, what did they do to
    it?
16. How big was one cluster of grapes in the promised land?
17. What should the priest and the pastor have been saying to the
    people?
18. Instead of listening to God, who had they been listening to?
19. Who had shown this very false god up before?
20. How long will God plead with them?
21. Who had God sent to warn them?
22. What is this terrible captivity that comes upon them, really?
23. Quote Romans chapter 1 verse 16.
24. What does "Chittum", in verse 10, represent?
25. Who does "Kedar" represent?
26. Why would the heavens be astonished?
27. What were the two evils they had committed?
28. Quote John chapter 7 verse 38.
29. Who controls nature?
30. Who was Israel slave to?
31. Who are the young lions in verse 15?
32. Who really brought these problems on them?
33. Why will God not protect them from Babylon?
34. Who does "Egypt" symbolize?