Jo’s Place

Jeremiah Chapter 3 part 1 “If a man divorces a woman, and she goes and marries someone else, he will not take her back again, for that would surely corrupt the land. But, you …have prostituted yourself, with many lovers, so why are you trying to come back, to me?” says the Lord. “Look at the shrines, on every hilltop. Is there any place, that you have not defiled, by your adultery, with other gods? You sit, like a prostitute, beside the road, waiting for a customer. You sit, alone, like a nomad, in the desert. You have polluted the land, with your prostitution, and with your wickedness. That’s why, even the spring rains, have failed. For you are a brazen prostitute, and you are completely shameless. Yet you say to me: ‘Father, you have been my guide, since my youth. Surely, you won’t be angry, forever! Surely, you can forget about it!’ So you talk, but you keep on doing …all the evil you can.” During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me:  “Have you seen what fickle Israel ...

Jeremiah Chapter 2 part 3 No amount,of soap or lye, can make you clean. I still see the stain, of your guilt. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken! “You say, ‘That’s not true! I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’ But, how can you say that? Go and look in any valley, in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel, desperately searching for a mate. You are like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind, at mating time. Who can restrain her lust? Those, who desire her, don’t need to search, because she goes running …to them! When will you stop running? When will you stop panting, after other gods? But you say, ‘Save your breath. I’m in love, with these foreign gods, and I can’t stop loving them, now!’ “Israel is like a thief, who feels shame, only when he gets caught. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets— are all alike in this. To an image carved from a piece of wood, they say: ‘You are my father.’ To an idol chiseled, from a...

Jeremiah Chapter 2 part 2 “Why has Israel become a slave? Why has he been carried away, as plunder? Strong lions have roared against him, …and the land has been destroyed. The towns are now in ruins, …and no one lives in them… anymore. Egyptians, marching from their cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes, have destroyed Israel’s glory and power. And you have brought this upon yourselves, by rebelling against the Lord your God, even though he was leading you, on the way! “What have you gained, by your alliances with Egypt, and your covenants with Assyria? What good, to you, are the streams of the Nile, or the waters of the Euphrates River? Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning, from me, will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is, to abandon the Lord, your God, and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken! “Long ago, I broke the yoke that oppressed you, and I tore away the chains, of your slavery, but still you said: ‘I will...