Jeremiah 3:11-20
In the scripture before us, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to “Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say Return, thou backsliding Israel” (v. 12). The words which Jeremiah was to proclaim extend from the 12th verse of chapter 3 to the end of chapter 4. The calendar date of God’s instruction was during the reign of Josiah, king of Judah (see v. 6). Jeremiah was called to prophesy during the 13th year of Josiah’s reign (627 B.C.). Josiah reigned from 640 B.C. to 609 B.C.
The timing of God’s instruction is puzzling. He called upon Jeremiah to do that which was literally impossible during Jeremiah’s lifetime. The nation of Israel ceased to exist more than 95 years before God spoke to Jeremiah. In 722 B.C., the Assyrians conquered Israel and removed the inhabitants to distant lands, replacing them with inhabitants from other lands that they had conquered. At the time of God’s instruction, the ten tribes of the northern kingdom were scattered. God instructed Jeremiah to speak to a people which did not exist.
“Return, thou backsliding Israel . . . I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful . . . and will not keep anger for ever” (v. 12). The message which God gave Jeremiah to deliver is not puzzling. God is merciful and desires that Israel turn from her past ways and that she acknowledge her iniquities and transgressions.
In verse 13, the Lord cites two offenses of Israel. Israel has (1) scattered her ways to strangers under every green tree and (2) disobeyed Him. The strangers under every green tree means the strange gods which were worshiped by the pagans about Israel. Israel had scattered (directed) her affections to gods fashioned from wood, stone, metal and earthly things. In direct disobedience to God, Israel had practiced idolatry. The Lord stated in verse 8 that He had put Israel away and given her a bill of divorce. The Lord now implores Israel to return to Him.
“Turn, O backsliding children . . .” (v. 14). There is a difference between “backsliding Israel” and “backsliding children.” God is married to the backsliding children which He addresses. God was divorced from backsliding Israel (v. 8). God’s relationship with the children of backsliding Israel is not of separation (divorce). It is to the backsliding children which God says: “I will take you . . . and I will bring you to Zion . . . I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
When shall God give Israel these pastors who will feed her with knowledge and understanding and what is the knowledge and understanding which Israel shall consume? The time is stated in verse 16. The time is after Israel has multiplied and increased in the land. The time is after God has taken “one of a city, and two of a family” and brought them to Zion.
The present day nation of Israel did not exist before May 14, 1948. Israel became a nation and was given a land on that date. The Jewish population in the land was about 700,000 at that time. The Jewish population of Israel has increased to 7 million. Israel has multiplied and increased in the land. God has taken “one of a city, and two of a family” and brought them to Zion.
The knowledge and understanding which the children shall consume is not found in the law of Moses because it is a time in which the children shall say, “no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord” (v. 16). The knowledge and understanding which the children shall consume is cause for them to forget the law of Moses. This knowledge and understanding is delivered from pastors who are according to God’s own heart (v. 15). More on these pastors later, but first more about this time.
“At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord . . .” (v. 17). In the time in which the children shall say ‘no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord’ is the day in which they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord. It is a day in which all nations shall be gathered to the throne of God. In verse 18, the Lord reveals that in those days both the house of Judah and the house of Israel shall come together out of the land of the north to the land which He gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for an inheritance.
In verse 19, the Lord reveals how that He shall “put thee among the children.” The children of verse 19 are not the backsliding children of verse 14. The children of verse 19 shall call upon God, saying My father. The children with which the Lord shall put both the house of Judah and the house of Israel among, are children who know God as Father. New Testament believers know the Lord God as “Our Father.” Both the house of Judah and the house of Israel shall call upon God in the manner of all who have been made sons of God by faith, believing in God who gave His only begotten Son to satisfy the law which no man could keep.
Returning to the pastors who are according to God’s own heart and the knowledge and understanding which they shall feed Israel. Through a vision given to John upon the isle of Patmos, God has revealed a future time in which He shall seal 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. This sealing shall be after the Lamb breaks open the sixth seal of the book that was in the right hand of Him who sat upon the throne. These 144,000 are identified as “servants of our God” (Rev. 7:3). The mission of these servants well may be to deliver the knowledge and understanding that is cause for former backsliding children to say “no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord.”
In verse 20, the Lord reminds Israel that she has dealt treacherously with Him. Israel needed to act upon these words. Israel needed to acknowledge her infidelity. Verse 20 also us points Judah to verse 11. Judah’s need to acknowledge her treachery was greater than that of Israel.
God issues this same warning to all. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9). It is God’s will that we (New Testament believers) tell all men in all places of His love. May His will be seen in us.
