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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 54

"Return, backsliding Israel"

Text: Jeremiah 3:12

AN IMPORTANT PERSONAL WORD

“Then the LORD said to me, ‘Backsliding Israel has shown
herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say:
‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD;
‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you.
For I am merciful,’ says the LORD;
‘I will not remain angry forever.””
Jeremiah 3:11-12

1. “Then the LORD said to me”

a) The relationship of the Lord to Jeremiah is to be noted.
b) The Lord continued to teach Jeremiah.
i) Revealing truths.
ii) Reinforcing Jeremiah’s knowledge and faith.

2. “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah”

a) This statement has to be carefully understood.
b) This is a statement of comparison.
c) Both Israel and Judah were unrighteous.
d) It is a question of degree of unrighteousness.
e) For the sake of argument, if one uses the word “righteousness”:
i) Israel would be “more righteous than Judah”.
ii) Judah’s added unrighteousness was “treachery”.

3. A wonderful message to proclaim to the northern kingdom of Israel

a) ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD;
i) This is an amazing word of grace and love.
ii) Israel was obviously backsliding and yet encouraged to return to God.
iii) There was yet hope!
b) “I will not cause My anger to fall on you.”
i) God’s anger was righteous.
ii) But He can withhold His anger.
iii) He can decide not to allow His anger to fall on backsliding Israel.
c) “‘For I am merciful,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not remain angry forever.'”
i) The reason given was that God was merciful.
ii) He may be angry but He will not remain angry forever.

4. The mercy of God

a) Proclamation of God
We are reminded of what God proclaimed to Moses (Exodus 34:6-7).
b) Pleading the mercy of God:

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”
Psalm 86:5