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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 60

"You shall call Me, 'My Father'"

Text: Jeremiah 3:19

GOD’S PLAN RECALLED

It was always in God’s plan to bless His people. This was revealed to Moses and shared with the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:7-10).

“But I said:
‘How can I put you among the children
And give you a pleasant land,
A beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations?’
‘And I said:
‘You shall call Me, ‘My Father,’
And not turn away from Me.’
Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband,
So have you dealt treacherously with Me,
O house of Israel,’ says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 3:19-20

1. “But I said:”

This was God’s plan.

a) To give His people a pleasant land.
b) A beautiful heritage.

2. “And I said:”

This was further spoken by the Lord.

a) “You shall call Me, ‘My Father'”
i) Israel was to develop a relationship with God as Father.
ii) It was meant to be a close and tender relationship.
b) “And not turn away from Me”
i) This was not just expressing a hope.
ii) This was a basic and express command.
iii) God had every right to give this strong word to Israel.
c) The sad reality:
i) Israel did not regard the LORD as Father.
ii) Instead, Israel called trees fathers and stones mothers (Jeremiah 2:27).

3. “‘Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband,
So have you dealt treacherously with Me,
O house of Israel,’ says the LORD”

a) A change of imagery from “Father-and-children”.
b) A Husband-and-wife imagery was employed.
c) The focus was similar:
i) Closeness of relationship was desired.
ii) Love ought to be there.
d) Another sad reality:
i) But Israel was like a treacherous wife.
ii) She left the LORD and loved many foreign deities (Jeremiah 2:28).