Jeremiah 3

Jeremiah 3

Jeremiah 3 seems to paint a very nice portrait of the Gospel of Grace. We are sinners. We have walked away from God, and sought to feed ourselves though the worship of other things. Jeremiah 3:1-5 compares the nation of Israel to a wife who leaves her loving husband to pursue a life of prostitution. This desecrates the relationship. Originally the northern kingdom of Israel rebelled first. And God “divorced her”. The southern kingdom Judah followed Israel away from God and into ‘whoredom”. Sin is seductive. We do not learn from others mistakes, but are instead seduced by their adventure. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 2:23 In spite of this, God invites Israel back. He says that he is merciful and will not remain angry forever. He asks them to confess their rebellion and return to him. He does the same for us. “While we where still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If they return, God promises them leaders who will feed them knowledge and understanding. He promises them a new method of worship without the need for the Ark of the Covenant. Nations will gather to worship in Jerusalem to worship God. When we return, we also have teachers and counselors that help to restore us. Jesus and the Holy Spirit now fill those roles. They feed us knowledge from the Gospel teachings of Christ, and through the continuing counsel of the Holy Spirit. We now worship in Spirit and in Truth, without need for the Ark of the Covenant.