Read Jeremiah 2:29–37
Questions from the Scripture text: What were Judah attempting to do (Jeremiah 2:29a)? But what does YHWH assert (verse 29b)? What had He done (Jeremiah 2:30a)? With what effect (verse 2:30b)? And what had they also done to whom (verse 2:30c–d)? How had they treated YHWH (Jeremiah 2:31a–c)? What did they refuse to do (verse 31 d–e)? What were they, unthinkably, like ( Jeremiah 2:32)? What did they do instead (Jeremiah 2:33)? What had they plainly done (Jeremiah 2:34)? And what did they still claim (Jeremiah 2:35)? How will the fruit of their current idolatry compare to that of their previous (Jeremiah 2:36-37b)? Why (Jeremiah 2:37c–d)?
How does the Lord address and expose our idolatry? Jeremiah 2:29–37 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord addresses and exposes our idolatry through affliction, His Word, tokens of His covenant love, and frustrating our idolatrous efforts.
The courtroom vocabulary in Jeremiah 2:29a indicates that when Judah excused her sin, she was actually prosecuting a case against God. But here, as at the judgment, there is no room for man to speak; YHWH simply renders His verdict (verse 2:29b).
The Lord had done several things to testify against them and bring their idolatry to light. He had afflicted them (Jeremiah 2:30a, cf. Hebrews 12:4–11), but they refused to repent (Jeremiah 2:30b). He sent them His Word, but they murdered the prophets (Jeremiah 2:30-31a). He betrothed them to Himself, and gave them tokens of their covenant, but they refused to come to Him for love (Jeremiah 2:31-32).
Instead, they turned elsewhere for love (Jeremiah 2:33). And they ignored the plain evidence of their murders (Jeremiah 2:34). And assured themselves that their affliction had nothing to do with their sin (Jeremiah 2:35).
The symmetry of the passage emphasizes their blindness and hard-heartedness. To these things, the Lord now adds the ridiculousness of their idolatry’s futility: they had tried this before, and it failed (Jeremiah 2:36), and the Lord will make idolatry fail no matter what (Jeremiah 2:37). Idolatry fails not only because there is no help in it, but because the Lord actively frustrates it!
Dear reader, there are so many things that we are tempted to depend upon, take ultimate delight in, or be devoted to, apart from the Lord. When He sends affliction, let us take it as an opportunity for self-examination. When He sends His Word, let us not reject or resist it, but take it to hear and let it examine us. When He presents to us, again, tokens of His covenant love, let us relish them, and love Him Who first loved us. And, when He frustrates our attempts to depend upon our idols, let us turn back to Him Who alone can help us. Thus, let us avail ourselves of these means by which He keeps us from idolatry!
What sin have you excused or rationalized? What afflictions are you making good use of as an opportunity for self-examination? How has the Lord’s Word addressed your idolatries? What use do you make of the tokens of His covenant love toward you?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for all of the different ways that You address our idolatry. Truly, we are without excuse. Give us, especially, to relish Your tokens of covenant love toward us. And make us to love You, Who have first loved us in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP119H “My Portion Is the LORD Himself” or TPH244 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
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