The Father Remembers His Beloved
2 1 The word of our Father came to me, saying:
2 Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: Thus says our Father: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. a a v2 Our Father tenderly recalls Israel's early love like a bridegroom remembering his bride—the same covenant tenderness he longs to restore. 3 Israel was holy to our Father, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who devoured her were held guilty; disaster overtook them, declares our Father.
4 Hear the word of our Father, house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says our Father: What wrong did your ancestors find in me, that they wandered far from me, chasing after worthless idols and becoming worthless themselves? 6 They did not ask, 'Where is our Father, who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and deep darkness, a land no one crosses and where no one lives? 7 And I brought you into a fruitful land to eat its fruit and its goodness. But you came and defiled my land, and made my inheritance an abomination. 8 The priests did not ask, 'Where is our Father?' Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds rebelled against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed what is worthless. 9 Therefore I still bring my charge against you, declares our Father, and against your children's children I will press it. 10 Cross over to the shores of Cyprus and look; send to Kedar and observe closely; see whether there has ever been anything like this: 11 Has a nation ever changed its gods, even though they are no gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glory for what is worthless. 12 Be appalled at this, heavens; be shocked, be utterly horrified, declares our Father. 13 For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water. b b v13 Our Father calls himself the fountain of living waters; Jesus later offered this same living water to all who come to him (John 4:14; 7:38).
14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born a servant? Why then has he become plunder? 15 The young lions roared against him; they growled loudly. They made his land a waste; his cities are burned and empty of people. 16 Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head. c c v16 Having one's head shaved or stripped was a mark of total defeat and humiliation in the ancient world. 17 Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking your Father, who was leading you along the way? 18 And now, why go to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Why go to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates? 19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasy will rebuke you. Know then and see how evil and bitter it is to forsake your Father; you have no fear of me, declares the Father of heaven's armies. 20 Long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds, but you said, 'I will not serve. ' Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute. 21 I had planted you as a choice vine, from wholly reliable seed. How then did you turn against me to become a corrupt, wild vine? 22 Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Sovereign Father.
23 How can you say, 'I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals '? Look at your way in the valley; consider what you have done—a restless young camel running here and there, 24 a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in her craving — who can restrain her when she is in heat? Those who want her don't need to tire themselves searching; when the season comes, they will find her. 25 Stop before your feet are worn bare and your throat goes dry. But you said, 'It is hopeless! No, for I love strangers, and after them I will go. 26 As a thief is shamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is shamed—they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets, 27 who say to a tree, 'You are my father, ' and to a stone, 'You gave me birth. ' For they have turned their backs on me, not their faces toward me. But in the time of their trouble they cry, 'Arise and save us! d d v27 Calling a carved tree 'my father' is the tragic counterfeit of the real relationship—turning from the true Father who made them to lifeless things that cannot. 28 But where are the gods you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for you have as many gods as you have cities, Judah. 29 Why do you bring a charge against me? You have all rebelled against me, declares our Father. 30 In vain I struck your children; they accepted no correction. Your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion. 31 Generation, consider the word of our Father: Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of deep darkness? Why then do my people say, 'We are free to roam; we will come to you no more 32 Can a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding sash? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number. 33 How cleverly you scheme to pursue love! You have even taught your ways to wicked women. 34 On your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor—though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things, 35 you say, 'I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.' Yet I will bring you to judgment for saying, 'I have not sinned. 36 How casually you keep changing course! You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria. 37 From there too you will come away with your hands on your head, for our Father has rejected those in whom you trust, and they will do you no good.