v1-3: Jeremiah brought "the word of the Lord," a phrase used many times in the book. These words are no human invention, but from Heaven itself.

Earlier blessings remembered; love and devotion in Israel. Israel had sought the Lord in difficult circumstances, "the desert...a land not sown." It seems the Lord remembered this past blessing with some affection. But now that love had grown cold (Rev 2.4). The generation born in the wilderness, became the generation that sought God in the wilderness. Difficult circumstances do not mean that he cease to love God.

The Lord was also jealous for His people, bringing disaster on those who attacked her, Num 23.21.

v4: But now hear what God has to say, for things are different.

v5: Youthful devotion was gone, replaced by idolatry; 'Why?' Had the Lord been unfaithful. Certainly not!

A remembrance of past blessings must encourage obedience today; although we must be careful not to cling to such things, we must trust and obey afresh each day.

v6-7: Although the Lord remembered, it seems the people forgot all that the Lord did. He brought them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land.

The land is described as "my land," a beautiful country, full of fruit and goodness; what a privilege that men should inherit this land. There is a picture here of the blessings we have in Christ.

Yet they defiled the land with their idolatry, and their unfaithfulness to God; Israel abused God's goodness.

v8: The leaders are marked out as culpable, setting a bad example for the people.

It is essential that leaders live blameless lives, maintaining a consistency in both life and ministry.

Jeremiah lists priests, scribes (those who deal with the law), leaders, and prophets; see 1.18; 5.30-31; 6.13-14; 10.21; 12.10; and chapters 23 and 26.They are particularly culpable in the rebellion and idolatry within the people.

v9: The Lord brings charges against His people. Generation after generation was guilty.

v10: Consider the behaviour of Gentiles nations. Jeremiah picks out Kittim (Cyprus) and Kedar (Arabia), representing the nations to the west and east of Judah,

v11: No Gentile nation ever changed its gods, even though they were powerless idols. Yet Israel changed their glory into something worthless.

v12: The Lord called the heavens as witness; consider their utter folly!

v13: They forsook the Lord - first evil.

They pursued false gods - second evil. These false gods are described as broken cisterns, which offer much but deliver nothing. The plural is used, for Israel made many gods, see v28. Israel was not even faithful to the idols it made!

This verse powerfully summarises Jeremiah’s attack on the people.

v14-19: Israel had been delivered from slavery; God had called the nation into dignity and freedom. Yet she sought servitude under Egypt and Assyria.

v14-16: Many things had happened to Israel, as disaster fell on both land and people. Israel was no longer viewed as a son, by as a slave, such was the effect of their sins.

v17: Israel had brought these disasters on herself, because she forsook the Lord. Disobedience always had consequences.

v18: They sought alliances with Egypt and Assyria, pictured by their rivers. Their idolatry was also linked with their rivers. But both nations attacked and defeated Israel. Although Israel pursued alliances with both nations, those alliances brought nothing but harm.

v19: Israel and Judah were left to suffer the consequences of their disobedience; the prophet is thinking of their being carried into captivity. It was by this means that Judah would repent of its idolatry.

As we bear the consequences of our own disobedience, may we also realise our folly, and repent of it.

v20: God had delivered Israel from slavery, and Israel had declared her loyalty, yet the evidence was of widespread idolatry.

v21: Israel was the seed of highest quality, Is 5.4; 2 Cor 10.17-18; yet she became the noble vine that turned from its high calling, into a degenerate plant of an alien vine.

v22: No human means can deal with sins; their next folly was to seek cleansing in a polluted fountain.

v23: The continuing charge (from v9), this time of hypocrisy also. "I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals." She had multiplied her idolatry, but maintained her innocence.

v24: Unrestrained idolatry, like an animal in the mating season.

v25: Israel was unrepentant and impotent; she could not deliver herself.

The application is twofold;

• the creation of a false god, not of wood or gold, but the imaginations of our minds; instead of worshipping the true God who has been revealed to us;
• the slavery to sin that can afflict us; we find no deliverance except in God.

v26: The people of Israel, esp. the leaders, will be ashamed when their idolatry is exposed and punished.

v27: They worshipped wood and stone, turning their backs on the true God. Then in times of trouble, when their own gods prove useless, they call upon God to help them.

v28: The gods they chose were impotent to help them.

v29: There was some implication that the people blamed God for their troubles, yet the reality was that they had rebelled against Him.

v30: The people refused correction, see Acts 7.52.

v31-32: Israel mistreated the Lord by her unfaithfulness.

v33: Their unfaithfulness likened to that of a prostitute.

v34: Idolatry linked with wrong doing; the innocent poor were abused.

Wrong belief must have an effect upon our actions, just as right belief also does.

v35: No shame, in fact a continued claim of innocence. This claim would be seen to be empty when the Lord brought judgment upon them.

v36-37: Their continued unfaithfulness, and constant dissatisfaction with whatever idols they turned to.