Jer 3:24 | KingComments | STEP | The voice of supplications “is heard on the bare heights”, which are the places where the people practice idolatry ( ; ). Because their departing from the LORD has not produced the expected results, they now weep and supplicate. God’s response to this is one of wonderful grace. He calls on His “faithless sons” to return ( ). If they do, He can heal their faithlessness. Those who return to the LORD with genuine repentance for their sins will have no desire to return to the mire of sin. Jeremiah confesses the condition of the people, with whom he makes himself one. Through Jeremiah’s mouth the people say they are coming to Him and acknowledge that He is the LORD their God ( ). They also acknowledge that they have sought their salvation in vain from the idols on the hills and the multitudes of the mountains ( ). Their salvation, the salvation of Israel, is only in the LORD their God. The people see that from their youth they have brought shame upon themselves by sinning against the LORD ( ). They confess the sin of their fathers and also their own, “we and our fathers”. There is no longer any excuse, no attempt to hide or justify their sins. They acknowledge that the cause is in not listening to the voice of the LORD their God. When we look back, we never regret what we did right. We only regret when we look back at the wrong things we did (cf. ). These are things that, when they were before us, when we looked at them, seemed attractive to do.

‏ Jeremiah 3:24

Exhortation to Repent

The voice of supplications “is heard on the bare heights”, which are the places where the people practice idolatry (Jer 3:21; Jer 3:2). Because their departing from the LORD has not produced the expected results, they now weep and supplicate. God’s response to this is one of wonderful grace. He calls on His “faithless sons” to return (Jer 3:22a). If they do, He can heal their faithlessness. Those who return to the LORD with genuine repentance for their sins will have no desire to return to the mire of sin.

Jeremiah confesses the condition of the people, with whom he makes himself one. Through Jeremiah’s mouth the people say they are coming to Him and acknowledge that He is the LORD their God (Jer 3:22b). They also acknowledge that they have sought their salvation in vain from the idols on the hills and the multitudes of the mountains (Jer 3:23). Their salvation, the salvation of Israel, is only in the LORD their God.

The people see that from their youth they have brought shame upon themselves by sinning against the LORD (Jer 3:24-25). They confess the sin of their fathers and also their own, “we and our fathers”. There is no longer any excuse, no attempt to hide or justify their sins. They acknowledge that the cause is in not listening to the voice of the LORD their God.

When we look back, we never regret what we did right. We only regret when we look back at the wrong things we did (cf. Rom 6:21). These are things that, when they were before us, when we looked at them, seemed attractive to do.