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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 18

"Israel was holiness to the LORD"

Text: Jeremiah 2:3

A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP

A special relationship existed between the Lord and His people. The key word is “holiness” in this relationship.

“‘Israel was holiness to the LORD,
The firstfruits of His increase.
All that devour him will offend;
Disaster will come upon them.’ says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 2:3

1. In a human-to-human relationship

a) The key word is often “love”.
b) Love between parents and children.
c) Love between friends.

2. In a God-to-human relationship

a) The key word is “holiness”.
b) This is noted in this word from God to Jeremiah.

3. “Israel was holiness to the LORD”

a) The word “holiness” is very special to God.
b) It is a prized word with Him.
c) It stems from the attribute of God’s holiness.
d) Nuances of this word:
i) Consecration
ii) Devotion
iii) Separation
e) Israel did not have a thought about the worship of idols at this point of time.
f) This was what God appreciated.
g) Sin brought in all kinds of corruption and spoilt Israel’s holy relationship with God.

4. “The firstfruits of His increase”

a) Firstfruits is an agrarian imagery.
i) The seed is sown in a field.
ii) The firstfruits are seen.
iii) The firstfruits are offered to God in worship and in faith.
iv) Firstfruits is just an indication of how God would bless with an increase.
v) God would bless fully till the entire crop is harvested.
b) Holiness was like “firstfruits”.
i) There are other features that God would like to bless the nation with.
ii) This was a promise of great and needed protection.

5. “‘All that devour him will offend; disaster will come upon them,’ says the LORD”

a) There were threats to Israel as a nation.
b) God’s word of protection was given to Israel.
i) All enemies would end up offending God.
ii) God will bring disaster to all the enemies of Israel.
c) But this special blessing of protection depended on whether Israel would continue to be holy and consecrated to the Lord.
d) Israel could forfeit this blessing if it became unfaithful to the Lord.