Year 6, Day 56: Jeremiah 3

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Forgiveness

• Forgiveness: Forgiveness is when our sins are absolved by God.  We do not deserve this forgiveness, but God grants it to us anyway.  We cannot earn forgiveness, but God gives it to us anyway.  As we are forgiven by God, He also asks us to forgive others.  In fact, Jesus Himself teaches us to pray for our forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer when He says, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

This chapter is like a roller coaster.  It begins with God absolutely slamming Judah through the words of Jeremiah.  After all, God compares Judah to a whore!  You don’t get much more critical than that.

What is it that Judah has done?  Judah has sought help from other nations.  Judah has sought help from the gods of other nations.  Judah has brought other gods into God’s Promised Land and worshipped them.  Judah has claimed to be faithful, but has proven themselves to be liars.  Judah is deserving of the condemnation.

But what is it that God says in the end of the chapter?  God looks to Israel – the northern kingdom, who is already in captivity – and promises to forgive them if they would just repent.  God even promises to grant them shepherds to lead them and teach them.  God says this as a sign to Judah.  If Judah would just turn and repent as God seeks from Israel, they too would be forgiven.

In the end, this is a very compassionate chapter after all.  We don’t deserve it, but God forgives us when we repent.  God accepts us even when we walk away from Him so long as we repent.

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