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stones and trees

Jeremiah 3:6-10 (JDV)

Jeremiah 3:6 In the days of King Josiah Yahveh asked me, “Have you seen what unfaithful Israel has done? She has gone up every high hill and gone under every green tree to prostitute herself there.
Jeremiah 3:7 I thought, ‘After she has done all these things, she will return to me.’ But she did not return, and her faithless sister Judah saw it.
Jeremiah 3:8 I observed that it was because unfaithful Israel had committed adultery that I had sent her away and had given her a certificate of divorce. Nevertheless, her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid but also went and prostituted herself.
Jeremiah 3:9 Indifferent to her prostitution, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
Jeremiah 3:10 Yet in spite of all this, her faithless sister Judah didn’t return to me with all her heart—only in pretense.” This is what Yahveh declares.

stones and trees

I can picture an angry husband here, saying incredulously, “She left me for that?” And, what was it that led both Israel and Judah to prostitute themselves? It was “stones and trees.” It does seem ridiculous that all it took was some chiseled stones and carved trees. God had rescued his bride from an idolatrous nation that had enslaved them, and she decided to become enslaved again.

All sin is like that. It is the choice of the impure instead of the pure, the paltry instead of the magnificent. No wonder God can speak through his prophet with an incredulous tone.

Father, forgive us for our ridiculous choices. Free us from the tyrany of the stones and trees we have wedded ourselves to.

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