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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 43

"Why do you beautify your way to seek love?"

Text: Jeremiah 2:33

PURSUIT OF A WRONG KIND OF LOVE

The word “love” in this context is anything but good and wholesome. The Love that God had shown His people was pure and holy right from the start (Deuteronomy 7:8, 13)! But this love was spurned. Judah sought “love” from idols!

“Why do you beautify your way to seek love?
Therefore you have also taught
The wicked women your ways.”
Jeremiah 2:33

1. “Why do you beautify your way to seek love?”

a) The seeking of love:
i) This is a normal human instinct.
ii) A person at any age, seeks love (child, teenager, adult).
b) The use of “beauty products”.
i) This is the idea behind the phrase “beautify your way”.
ii) The focus of this kind of love is essentially “physical”.

2. Known idolatrous practices in the ancient days

a) Temple prostitution was widely practised.
b) Devotees were lured by these practices.

3. Israel had learned the wrong things

a) Through such practices, the heart was corrupted along the way.
b) Israel no longer desired the love of God that emphasised purity of the heart.
c) It sought love through promiscuous means.

4. “Therefore you have also taught the wicked women your ways”

a) Israel not only learned the wrong things, it “improved” on them.
b) The “wicked women” would be a reference to temple priestesses who were skilled in the art of seduction.
c) Israel could offer lessons to these professional wicked women!

5. To the adulterous nation God asked “Why?”

a) Why would they forsake God and turn to idols?
b) Why would they set aside God’s pure love for something that was corrupt?
c) Why would they seek that which offers nothing real and lasting, when all they need are found in the Lord and His love?