Return to the Lord

Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:14-15


As I read chapter 3 of Jeremiah yesterday and got to these two verses in particular I was touched by God’s love and mercy for us. Actually from verse 12 I was impacted by the word of God. The book of Jeremiah is written specifically for the people of Israel during Jeremiah’s time but like every book of the Bible it still applies today. There are so many who once served the Lord fervently and for whatever reason have gone after other “gods”.

Verses 12 and 13 say this:
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. That you have transgressed against the LORD your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the LORD. Jeremiah 3:12-13

The backsliding Israel of today is the church. The church that has compromised herself to things of this world, the church that has become lax in what the word of God says in regards to sin and the life a Christian should live. Notice how the last part in verse 13 says – “and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree and have not obeyed my voice.” There are many who are not teaching the unadulterated word of God, men and women who profess Christ but are not obeying His voice. People today think that being a Christian does not involve change or transformation. They think that they can call themselves Christians and continue to live their lives the way they always have before receiving Christ, but as my Pastor is fond of saying – if there is no transformation then that person has not received Christ in his heart because when Christ comes in to your heart, there has to be a change.

These “shepherds” who are not tending their flock the way God commands, not instructing them in how to live a holy life, a life pleasing to the Lord, will one day stand before the throne of God and give account for those of their flock who are lost. I think I just got way off topic but going back to verses 14 and 15 what touched me the most or what spoke to me the loudest was verse 15 where the Lord says that He will provide shepherds according to His heart who will feed the backsliding children with knowledge and understanding. I thought that was awesome!! There are men and women of God who have not compromised! Who have not bowed their knees to foreign gods, men and women of God who are according to His heart and obey His voice! These are the men and women God will use to shepherd His backsliding children, those who have erred for whatever reason. These “shepherds” according to God’s heart will instruct the children with and in knowledge and understanding on how they should live before God Almighty!

God is a jealous God and does not share His glory, but He is not jealous of us, (as I once heard someone say they didn’t understand how He could be jealous and still be a loving God) instead He is jealous for us! It is a holy jealousy, unlike the jealousy that often attacks the minds of human beings. He says that He is married to us! When the people of Israel went after foreign gods they were considered harlots living in adultery against God! God is merciful but He is also a consuming fire, a just God who does not tolerate sin.

In verse 12 He tells the people of Israel to return to Him and He will not be angry with them anymore because He is a merciful God. That is just so amazing! These were people who tried God’s patience as many of us have at some point in our lives, and worshipped foreign gods yet God was saying I will forget all about that if you return to Me and serve Me. Praise God for His mercy that lasts forever. For those of you who are preparing for ministry or are already in ministry – be one of those shepherds according to God’s heart. Do not compromise anything the Lord puts in your hands. Do not bend to wicked ways of this world. Teach the word of God just as He gives it to you. Exhort the people just as God asks you to. Obey His voice at all times and separate yourself from those things that would put you in a compromising position. Praise God!

Heavenly Father,
I pray for all those who are according to Your heart who will lead your backsliding children in knowledge and understanding of who You are and how to live for You. Thank you for Your everlasting mercy. Continue to lead these men and women You have called in all that You have for them and strengthen them to resist anything that would attempt to compromise them and their ministries. Father I pray for those backsliding children that they would realize the greatness of Your mercy and their need of You in their lives and return to You because You have already provided those that will instruct them and help them walk in the straight and narrow path. I give You glory, honor, and praise for Your love, mercy, and eternal patience with Your creation who rebel and don’t always obey. Help us to be obedient and to live according to Your will. In Jesus mighty name,
Amen.