Jeremiah 2:20-28

The Sin of Idolatry

v. 20. For of old time I have broken thy yoke and burst thy bands, rather, "For from ancient times thou hast broken thy yoke and burst thy bands," namely, the laws and ordinances of God; and thou saidst, I will not transgress, literally, "I will not serve," thus obstinately refusing obedience to the Lord, when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, where the sanctuaries of idolatry were always found, playing the harlot, the act of adultery, as practiced in connection with heathen rites, being figurative of shameless idolatry.

v. 21. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, the finest and most fruitful of the Holy Land, wholly a right seed, Cf Deuteronomy 32:32; Psalms 80:8-1 Samuel :; Isaiah 5:1; how, then, art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me? After all the pains which the Lord had taken with Israel it certainly was a matter which could not be laid to His charge that Israel had turned out so badly.

v. 22. For though thou wash thee with niter, an alkali having the properties of lye, used for washing, and take thee much soap, the potash which, mixed with oil, was used for washing clothes, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, is a stain before the eyes of the Lord, saith the Lord God. All the efforts of men are not sufficient to purge away the ugly spots of sin on their hearts.

v. 23. How canst thou say, I am not polluted, denying the guilt of her wickedness, I have not gone after Baalim? the plural being used to characterize the many forms which this god took among the various nations. See thy way in the valley, considering the course which she had followed, know what thou hast done. Thou art a swift dromedary, a young she-camel, traversing her ways, literally, "braiding (or twisting) her ways," doubling and turning back and forth in her lust;

v. 24. a wild ass used to the wilderness, not to be tamed, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure, both to cool her ardor and to direct her way; in her occasion, her anxiety to accomplish her purpose, who can turn her away? All they that seek her will not weary themselves, have no need to tire themselves out in finding her; in her month, at the season of the year when this impulse is strongest, they shall find her, for she will readily be found, since she acts under the uncontrollable impulse of her instinct. With the same fierceness and disregard of consequences Israel was addicted to her idolatry.

v. 25. Withhold thy foot from being unshod, in running so violently after idolatry as to wear out her shoes, and thy throat from thirst, as a result of her excessive exertion in seeking strangers and their idolatrous customs; but thou saidst, There is no hope, no; it is useless to argue, since she is firmly resolved to go on on her sinful course; for I have loved strangers, strange gods in place of the one true God, and after them will I go, determined to persist in her wickedness.

v. 26. As the thief is ashamed when he is found, put to shame by the evidences of his guilt, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, leaders and people in the same condemnation,

v. 27. saying to a stock, to a tree or log. Thou art my father, hailing the dead creature as god; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth; for they have turned their back unto Me and not their face, that is their transgression; but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise and save us. When affliction and trouble bring them to their senses, then they will turn to Jehovah for help. Cf Luke 15:16-Job :. Over against this insulting behavior the Lord tells them:

v. 28. But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise it they can save thee in the time of thy trouble; for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah! Idolaters of all times and places have had the same experience, namely, that idols of every kind cannot deliver from trouble, no matter how great their number.