Jer 2:14 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD will contend with them and call them to account for their behavior of unparalleled apostasy ( ). This applies not only to the generation to whom Jeremiah addresses the word, but even to their grandchildren. God’s standards do not change and remain the same for every generation. In His assessment of evil, He is absolutely just. As for their idolatry, they can learn from the heathen nations ( ). Let them take the trouble to go and see the coastlands of Kittim, that is Cyprus, on the west; and let them go and observe closely Kedar, an Arabian wilderness tribe, on the east. The people are obliged, as it were, to look from west to east, that is, everywhere. Then they should pay close attention to how those nations treat their idols. They will notice that those nations do not exchange their gods for other gods, but remain faithful to them, though of course they are no more than wooden and stone gods ( ). Idolaters are often more devoted to what is useless than God’s people are to the truth. God’s people give up the truth, idolaters hold on to the lie. This is also true of our time. It is against this background that they must now consider their own behavior. How is it then that they not only become unfaithful to their “Glory” but change Him for what are not gods ( ). They replace the glory of the imperishable God with images from creation ( ). It is terrible when a woman commits adultery, but she does so, in general, with one man. But Israel commits adultery with many, many idols. That the people committed adultery is bad enough, but she also does so with so many and such horrible idols. They changed the living God for terrible idols. Changing or replacing gods is something that does not happen even in the heathen world. When God’s people sin, it is usually to a worse degree than when people of the world do (cf. ). God’s people change their Glory, which is the LORD Himself, for what is of no use, which are the idols. How foolish God’s people can be! Jeremiah, on behalf of the LORD, calls upon the heavens – where we can think of the angels – to be appalled , to shudder , and to be very desolate over this ( ). On earth the LORD is not taken into account by His people. Heaven sees the unfaithfulness and cannot regard it unmoved ( ; ). The LORD holds up to Judah their two-fold sin, “two evils” ( ). They have 1. forsaken Him, the fountain of living waters, that is, they have rejected the truth and 2. hewed for themselves cisterns, “broken cisterns that can hold no water” that is, they have accepted the lie. The LORD calls Himself “the fountain of living waters”, the fountain of life (cf. ). Whoever forsakes the fountain of living waters, the Lord Jesus Himself ( ), starts tapping his own sources. Those who tap sources of their own to learn the true meaning of life will perish of thirst. Only the LORD can quench the thirst of His people. “Broken cistern”, cistern that do not hold water, resources that do not quench thirst, are Egypt and Assyria ( ). As an application for us, we can think, for example, of science, philosophy, and the pursuit of possession and power. Everything that is expected from these ‘cisterns’ leaks away. Sin inevitably brings its own punishment. Through two powerful questions, the LORD emphasizes the consequences of their disobedience ( ). Israel was originally neither slave nor prey ( ), but has become slave and prey through their unfaithfulness. The LORD calls Israel “My Son, My firstborn” ( ). They are not destined to serve in slavery, but to rule in freedom. Israel, however, has turned away from the LORD and denied his relationship to Him as a son. He became an idolater and a slave to his lusts. “Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin“ ( ). Because of sin, enemies have come to rule over them and they have become slaves ( ). Israel has become a prey of young lions ( ). The fruits of the land have become the prey of other nations because of their idolatry. By the young lions are meant Assyria and Egypt, the instruments of God’s judgment, and this while Israel has taken refuge in them. Egypt has robbed the people of their honor ( ). They have themselves to blame for this, because they have forsaken the LORD Who wants to lead them in the right way ( ). With great courage, Jeremiah points out the cause of the impending judgment. The responsibility for this lies entirely with the people. They will have to live with the fruit of their evil ways. Evil is not only something that is directed against God, but also against man himself. In the days of Jeremiah, there are two main political movements. There is an Egyptian-minded party and an Assyrian-minded party. But what help can wicked nations offer Judah? Jeremiah points out their fickle behavior. The people seek support from Assyria at one time and from Egypt at another, according to how the situation requires it in their estimation ( ; cf. ; ; ). These are the cisterns they hewed for themselves, the broken cisterns, which hold no water ( ). These cisterns have provided them with nothing even remotely reminiscent of refreshment. Have they then learned nothing of its futility and deception? Forsaking the LORD is an evil that punishes itself ( ) because sin finally makes one miserable and does not give one the joy it initially seemed to give. We see this with the prodigal son ( ). Repentance comes when it starts to sink in “that it is evil and bitter” to forsake the LORD God and that the cause of it is that there is no fear of the LORD, of Him Who is the Lord, the LORD of hosts. Sin is evil in itself and bitter in its effects. What folly and great sin it is to forsake Him and turn against Him.

‏ Jeremiah 2:14

Israel’s Idolatry

The LORD will contend with them and call them to account for their behavior of unparalleled apostasy (Jer 2:9). This applies not only to the generation to whom Jeremiah addresses the word, but even to their grandchildren. God’s standards do not change and remain the same for every generation. In His assessment of evil, He is absolutely just.

As for their idolatry, they can learn from the heathen nations (Jer 2:10). Let them take the trouble to go and see the coastlands of Kittim, that is Cyprus, on the west; and let them go and observe closely Kedar, an Arabian wilderness tribe, on the east. The people are obliged, as it were, to look from west to east, that is, everywhere.

Then they should pay close attention to how those nations treat their idols. They will notice that those nations do not exchange their gods for other gods, but remain faithful to them, though of course they are no more than wooden and stone gods (Jer 2:11). Idolaters are often more devoted to what is useless than God’s people are to the truth. God’s people give up the truth, idolaters hold on to the lie. This is also true of our time.

It is against this background that they must now consider their own behavior. How is it then that they not only become unfaithful to their “Glory” but change Him for what are not gods (Psa 106:20). They replace the glory of the imperishable God with images from creation (Rom 1:23). It is terrible when a woman commits adultery, but she does so, in general, with one man. But Israel commits adultery with many, many idols. That the people committed adultery is bad enough, but she also does so with so many and such horrible idols.

They changed the living God for terrible idols. Changing or replacing gods is something that does not happen even in the heathen world. When God’s people sin, it is usually to a worse degree than when people of the world do (cf. 1Cor 5:1). God’s people change their Glory, which is the LORD Himself, for what is of no use, which are the idols.

How foolish God’s people can be! Jeremiah, on behalf of the LORD, calls upon the heavens – where we can think of the angels – to be appalled, to shudder, and to be very desolate over this (Jer 2:12). On earth the LORD is not taken into account by His people. Heaven sees the unfaithfulness and cannot regard it unmoved (Deu 32:1; Isa 1:2).

The LORD holds up to Judah their two-fold sin, “two evils” (Jer 2:13). They have

1. forsaken Him, the fountain of living waters, that is, they have rejected the truth and

2. hewed for themselves cisterns, “broken cisterns that can hold no water” that is, they have accepted the lie.

The LORD calls Himself “the fountain of living waters”, the fountain of life (cf. Psa 36:9a). Whoever forsakes the fountain of living waters, the Lord Jesus Himself (Jn 4:10-14 ; Jn 7:37-39), starts tapping his own sources. Those who tap sources of their own to learn the true meaning of life will perish of thirst. Only the LORD can quench the thirst of His people. “Broken cistern”, cistern that do not hold water, resources that do not quench thirst, are Egypt and Assyria (Jer 2:18). As an application for us, we can think, for example, of science, philosophy, and the pursuit of possession and power. Everything that is expected from these ‘cisterns’ leaks away.

Sin inevitably brings its own punishment. Through two powerful questions, the LORD emphasizes the consequences of their disobedience (Jer 2:14). Israel was originally neither slave nor prey (Jer 2:3), but has become slave and prey through their unfaithfulness. The LORD calls Israel “My Son, My firstborn” (Exo 4:22). They are not destined to serve in slavery, but to rule in freedom. Israel, however, has turned away from the LORD and denied his relationship to Him as a son. He became an idolater and a slave to his lusts. “Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin“ (Jn 8:34). Because of sin, enemies have come to rule over them and they have become slaves (Neh 9:36).

Israel has become a prey of young lions (Jer 2:15). The fruits of the land have become the prey of other nations because of their idolatry. By the young lions are meant Assyria and Egypt, the instruments of God’s judgment, and this while Israel has taken refuge in them. Egypt has robbed the people of their honor (Jer 2:16). They have themselves to blame for this, because they have forsaken the LORD Who wants to lead them in the right way (Jer 2:17).

With great courage, Jeremiah points out the cause of the impending judgment. The responsibility for this lies entirely with the people. They will have to live with the fruit of their evil ways. Evil is not only something that is directed against God, but also against man himself.

In the days of Jeremiah, there are two main political movements. There is an Egyptian-minded party and an Assyrian-minded party. But what help can wicked nations offer Judah? Jeremiah points out their fickle behavior. The people seek support from Assyria at one time and from Egypt at another, according to how the situation requires it in their estimation (Jer 2:18; cf. Hos 7:11; Isa 30:1-2 ; Isa 31:1; Eze 23:3 ; 5). These are the cisterns they hewed for themselves, the broken cisterns, which hold no water (Jer 2:13). These cisterns have provided them with nothing even remotely reminiscent of refreshment. Have they then learned nothing of its futility and deception?

Forsaking the LORD is an evil that punishes itself (Jer 2:19) because sin finally makes one miserable and does not give one the joy it initially seemed to give. We see this with the prodigal son (Lk 15:11-19). Repentance comes when it starts to sink in “that it is evil and bitter” to forsake the LORD God and that the cause of it is that there is no fear of the LORD, of Him Who is the Lord, the LORD of hosts. Sin is evil in itself and bitter in its effects. What folly and great sin it is to forsake Him and turn against Him.