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stubborn stain

Jeremiah 2:14-22 (JDV)

Jeremiah 2:14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why else has he become a seized property?
Jeremiah 2:15 The young lions have roared at him; they have roared loudly. They have laid waste his land. His cities are in ruins, without inhabitants.
Jeremiah 2:16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have also cracked your forehead.
Jeremiah 2:17 Did you not bring this on yourself by leaving Yahveh your God while he was leading you along the way?
Jeremiah 2:18 Now what would you gain by traveling along the way to Egypt to drink the water of the Nile? What would you gain by traveling along the way to Assyria to drink the water of the Euphrates?
Jeremiah 2:19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own acts of rebellion will reprimand you. Recognize how evil and bitter it is for you to leave Yahveh your God and to have no fear of me. This is the declaration of the Lord Yahveh of Armies.
Jeremiah 2:20 You see, long ago I broke your yoke; I tore off your chains. You insisted, “I will not serve!” On every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a prostitute.
Jeremiah 2:21 I planted you, a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a disloyal, foreign vine?
Jeremiah 2:22 Even if you wash with strong soap and use lots of alkali, the stain of your violation still stares me in the face. This is the Lord Yahveh’s declaration.

stubborn stain

Don’t you hate it when you get a stain on your favorite article of clothing, and have to throw it out? It feels unfair. You have all those dopey things you wouldn’t mind getting rid of, but they remain serviceable. But your favorite thing now has to be discarded! Well, that’s how God felt about the Israelites. He rescued them from slavery, and how did they respond? They decided they would not serve him out of appreciation. Instead, they prostituted themselves to the gods of the nations. God cannot stand to look at that stubborn stain. Out they have to go.

Lord, forgive us for our stubborn independence. We surrender all.

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