“The Lord gave me another message. He said, “Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says: “I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness. In those days Israel was holy to the Lord, the first of his children. All who harmed his people were declared guilty, and disaster fell on them. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah 2:1-3
Israel had left their first love. God is asking Israel to remember the springtime of their relationship to Him when He called them out of the land of Egypt—how they followed the pillar of fire at night and the pillar of cloud by day. Out in that frightful and terrible wilderness they sought the Lord. God now reminds them of that. After God had blessed them and given them a good land, they turned from Him. As Hosea had said of the northern kingdom, “Ephraim waxed fat and wicked.” In their comfortable and sophisticated society, they turned away from the living God to serve idols.
One cannot help but note that there is an analogy between Judah and our own nation. God is left out today. Our nation was founded by men and women who believed that the Bible was the Word of God, and everything they did was based on that Bible. As one of our outstanding historians has observed, our nation is controlled by men who do not know its spiritual heritage and we are trying to change our history to hide what our founders believed. Two books that you need to read so that you will know our history are: “Leaders of Liberty” by Justin Nicholson and Donnie Swaggart, “Light of Liberty” by Justin Nicholson and Donnie Swaggart. These books will enlighten you on our nation’s early history.
We have turned away from God. We are going after the idol of the almighty dollar. The best news out of New York is a vigorous stock market. The best news out of Washington is that which will put more money in our pockets. Money is the god of the present hour.
I remember thee.” God says, “I remember you.” They had forgotten Him, but God had not forgotten them. Oh, how gracious God is! Listen to His longing: “Israel was holiness unto the LORD. Don’t you remember back there how you were? You belonged to Me. You followed Me and you were led by Me.”