Jeremiah 2: Worthless Things

"Thus says the Lord: What wrong did your ancestors find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves?" (vs. 5)

Through His prophet Jeremiah, God bemoans the trade that the Israelites have made, forsaking Him and trading in their devotion to Him for worthless things.  In so doing, they themselves have become worthless!

It wasn't always this way.  There was a moment, however brief, when Israel was God's prized possession.  Verses 2 and 3 recall Israel's initial love of the Lord in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.  Unfortunately, it was not to last.

God's people quickly forgot their God.  Instead of valuing their relationship with the Creator of the Universe, they went chasing after worthless things, exchanging the glory of God to their utter loss:

• "The priests did not say, 'Where is the Lord?'  Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do no profit" (vs. 8).

• "Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods?  But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit" (vs. 11).

• "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water" (vs. 13).  

In the New Testament, Jesus will continue this idea of being a fountain of living water (John 4).  Israel has neglected their relationship with the life-giving Lord, and instead pursued their own course, digging out worthless cisterns for themselves that cannot hold water.

Jeremiah goes on to further reveal the fruitlessness of the nation's actions.  God twice asks, "What do you gain?" by pursuing alliances with other nations (vs. 18).  Israel has gone from being a choice vine to being a worthless weed (vs. 21).  Even though the people maintain their innocence (and even because they maintain their innocence), they are being brought into judgment (vs. 35).

A chapter like this should make us ponder: Are we being faithful to the Lord?  Are we keeping alive our first love for Him?  Is there any way in which we are making the tragic error of the nation of Israel and going astray after worthless things?