I was reading Jeremiah, from the Bible, this morning. I don't often turn to this book but today my bookmark happened to be slotted there and so I started reading. I came across a verse that grabbed my attention in Jeremiah 3:2 (ESV):
"Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see!
Where have you not been ravished?
By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers
like an Arab in the wilderness.
You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom."
First of all I'd like to say that I haven't studied this passage so I'm sure my comments below could use much deeper extrapolation.
Secondly, I'd like to say that I'm sure there is a cultural reason for using Arab's in this verse. I don't know that cultural reason but I know that anytime the Bible picks out specific cultures it is to emphasize a point to the hearing audience rather than to jab at another culture. Times have changed and this passage was not written in this time. So don't get caught up on that phrase but look for the overarching truth behind it which again could use a deeper look.
Thirdly this passage caught my attention because of the word, "whoredom." I think it's a great word but for some reason spell check wants to underline it with a red squiggly! Common spell check, live a little.
While this verse is just a snap shot, and I believe the main thrust (possibly a whoredom pun), of Jeremiah and the opening theme is chasing after other god's. God makes a case for why Israel should trust Him as God has shown miraculous favor to them for many generations. And yet they continually chose to follow powerless idols when times of trouble come.
Here is a mocking word for those who have turned their backs on God and who have chased useless idols. Jeremiah 2:26-28:
“As a thief is shamed when caught,
so the house of Israel shall be 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 back to me,
and not their face.
But in the time of their trouble they say,
‘Arise and save us!’
28 But where are your gods
that you made for yourself?
Let them arise, if they can save you,
in your time of trouble;
for as many as your cities
are your gods, O Judah."
I can't help but think of all the ways that I/we whore ourselves to idols, although we would never call them that. Whether it's physical appearance or fitness or wealth or sex or the pursuit of happiness or pleasure or public favor or comfort or __________ (fill in your own blank) we often turn to other sustainers other than that of the sustaining power and delight of God. And then in times of trouble we wonder why God is not found. As I/we have whored ourselves out to everything else then we wonder why our first love, God, seems distant.
Our Creator knows us, the creation, well. We are not hiding anything from Him. For those of us that claim to be Christ followers then today lets pick up our cross (Luke 9:23), stop whoring ourselves to others (Jer 1-3), and let us fix our eyes on Jesus who has already overcome (John 16:33, Heb 12:1-3).
I'll close here with the revelation to the church in Laodicea (Rev 3:15-22) which I think can often be echoed for us today.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor,blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, andwhite garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Grace and Peace,
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