Jeremiah 2:26-37

Hey, good morning, good morning. Welcome to Coffee and Devotions. Today we're going to wrap up Jeremiah chapter 2. What does God think about idolatry? How does he compare it? There's some humor in this, a little bit of fun. Let's have some coffee. We'll pray and we'll get into God's Word. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for the joy that you have given us in your word and in you. We pray that you would please teach us to know who you are, to walk in your ways. We need your Holy Spirit, Lord, because we're so prone to pride to think we're above these things. But God, you know that we Lord, we can so easily stumble ourselves, so Father, please help us. In Jesus' name, Amen. We go to Jeremiah chapter 2, beginning at verse 26. As a thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed.
They and their kings and their princes and their priests and their prophets, saying to a tree, you are my father. And to a stone you gave birth to me. For they have turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they will say, arise and save us. But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.
Point out that your rationality, there's a sense of this tone of sarcasm almost. You say to a tree, you're my father, and to a stone, you gave birth to me. You're no better than a thief when he's caught. You're not sorry you did the thing, you're sorry you got caught doing the thing.
And when you need my help, you'll call for salvation. I'm gonna say to you, go serve your idols. That's what Jeremiah is saying here. Why will you plead with me? You have all transgressed against me, said the Lord. In vain I have chastened your children. They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion." He says, why are you crying out to me?
Why are you calling me? You killed the prophets. You killed the people that God put words in their mouth. And this idea, there's almost a play in words here, this idea of the prophets and the Nabi, right, is coming from this idea of being called or calling. And so why are you calling on me? I gave you those who are to call out to you, who I called, and you killed them. Oh, generations, see the word of the Lord.
I have, have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of darkness? Why do my people say, we are lords, we will come no more to you? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. You say, you've forgotten your beauty, you've forgotten who you are.
I gotta say, I made you beautiful. I didn't abandon you, but you abandoned me. Why do you beautify your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught the wicked women your ways. Also your skirt is found, the blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, but plainly on all these things. Yet you say, because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead my case against you, because you say I have not sinned. Why do you gad about so much to change your way?
Also, you shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assyria. Indeed, you will go forth from him with your hands on your head, for the Lord has rejected your trusted allies, and you will not prosper by them. The Lord is saying here in this last section, what's that last section about? You're going out and you're trying to find other lovers, other people to find pleasure and joy with. And he's saying they found it in Assyria and they're trying to find it up in Egypt.
And he's saying, when are you going to change your ways? You act like you don't have sin, but I know your sin and I will judge you for it. And I don't have to search it out. It's plain for everyone to see. And so what is this whole section about here? Israel's not ashamed. Judah's not ashamed of their sin. They're acting as if they don't have sin, and the Lord is saying, I know your sin. I know what you're doing. I don't even have to search it out. You're being unfaithful to me.
So the question is, will they listen? Would they believe? Sadly, Jeremiah wouldn't see them turn and believe. Sadly instead, they would dig in their heel. One of those difficult things, right? Lives in where he sees the great reformation of Josiah. But by the time he becomes an old man, Egypt indeed would turn on them. And Jeremiah himself would be taken against his will to Egypt.
So that's what this section is about. What's the best verse to summarize this? I have verse 35 in my Bible underlined. Yet you say, because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead my case against you, because you say, I have not sinned. I think that's the best verse to summarize this.
Let's see, what are we called to do? Are we like those in 1 John who make God out to be a liar and say we do not have sin? Do we deceive ourselves, acting like we don't sin? We may look down with pride. Oh, these stupid, stupid Judas, right? They aren't willing to admit their sin and guilt. Those wayward Israelites. And yet, every single time we covet, every time we covet, we follow the same way. Following after the idolatry of our heart.
And God doesn't have to search it out. He knows it. He sees it. How often in our lives do we chase after the things of this world, acting as if they're the end of it? God's made us beautiful. Christian, He's called you to Himself. Will we be those who repent? Turn to Him and trust in Him only. And when we see the sprouting up of idolatry in our life, will we quickly pluck out the weed? Will we call on the God of heaven? Will we remember who He is? Do not forget your first love.
Let's pray. Father, we pray that we would not be those who wipe our mouth and say we have not sinned. Lord, we pray that we would be those who would be quick to recognize our sin, our guilt, and turn to you. Lord, please do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lord, we pray that you would please work in our hearts, turn us to yourself. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, may that great shepherd of the sheep watch over your soul. May you always lift up your eyes to heaven, see the God who has called you in his son to be beautiful. May you walk in his ways in glory, in his love. I'll see you next time.