STUDY NIGHT

​Jeremiah 2
 
Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord.
 
This is why Jeremiah is termed the “The Weeping Prophet.” Here the Lord Jesus uses him to cry in the ears of the Lord's people. In the book of Revelation the Lord shares that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. John stated that he saw Jerusalem, the Holy City, coming from Heaven adorned as a bride. Jerusalem is placed at a high standard before the Lord. His bride must be holy. To whom much is given much is required. He wants a bride without spot or wrinkle. Jesus desires a bride that's faithful and trusting. He sets the standard for remembrance. He states “I remember thee.” Then the Lord pleads that the children likewise remember the God of their youth. Remember that you were espoused to him and that he led them in the wilderness. He said they were the firstfruits unto him and that because of it anyone who were their enemies the Lord would bring evil against.
 
Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they were gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
 
He addresses the natural house by calling them Jacob and includes the spiritual house by also addressing them as the families of the house of Israel and those grafted in through the blood of Jesus. Again the Lord is pleading with His children as a husband desiring to mend a relationship. He asked what he had done to receive such treatment by His chosen, calling them vain. The Lord is addressing the heart of His people by pleading “How can you do this? Why won't you seek me?” He's covered them, shielded them, and has been a guide to them even through the wilderness of Egypt and through the shadows of death.
 
And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. The priests said not, Where is the Lord? And they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also trangressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your children's children will I plead.
 
God is a good shepherd. Freely he has given but yet the people that he has chosen and given a good heritage have defiled the land with abomination. The Lord states the priest are out of order. They are not properly seeking the Lord concerning His children. The pastors sin against the Lord and haven't fed the flock as the Lord had ordained. He spoke more specifically concerning the shepherds in Ezekiel 34:1-23
 
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye shall eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which is sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the filed, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am  against the shepherd; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
 
The Lord has stated that judgment starts at the household of faith. He is cleaning His house. He is addressing the issues with His people and he is holding those accountable from the leadership, elders and ancients, even down to the flock and those scattered. He's eliminating excuses. He is restoring holiness because he is coming back for His church without spot or blemish. The prophet Ezekiel's prophesy is lined up with Jeremiah's prophesy concerning the Lord's shepherds as well as His flock. Within the Holy Spirit it the spirit of judgment. So that same spirit is confirmed prophet to prophet. The Word also reminds us that the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets. The Lord has a checks and balance for righteous judgment and is no respecter of persons. In the segment of scripture in Ezekiel the Lord prophesied against the shepherds who weren't doing their job. The Lord chastens those he loves. He loves us enough to call us and choose us and qualify us. So, as a good shepherd he chastens in ways that we know and understand. He told them all the things they didn't do and they were supposed to have done. The Lord notified the shepherds that they are fired! He states he doesn't want them feeding the flock. They weren't doing the job anyway. Their services aren't required any longer he also states they won't be feeding themselves any more either. Then the Lord takes over and states that he's going to do the job that they wouldn't do. He will seek out His sheep and deliver them out of all places. In the midst of all of this, the Lord God yet pleads with the children that they repent and not give in to idolatry and falsehood. He stated by their actions they were forsaking him, who was the fountain of living water, in return they became as broken vessels which could not hold.
 
Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
 
The Lord wants Israel to make a choice. Will you be a servant of righteousness or a slave to sin? Look and examine the situation as to why you're spoiled.
 
And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? Or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
 
Instead of surrendering and crying unto the Lord thy God. The children go to their enemies for assistance. To say they drink of their waters is to say they indulge in their spirits, adding sin to sin. The Lord reminds them of the other times he delivered them when they sinned, wandered, and played the harlot.