Are you good? Please be truthful! We have failed in one way or another through our acts of commission or omission. The people can best pick us out are those closest to us. In my case, my wife! Nothing beats me worse than my wife pointing out the obvious wrong in my thoughts, words or actions. She is GOOD! I know it is wrong, and she is my external conscience besides my internal God given conscience. People of Israel had the benefit of God continually pointing out things there were doing wrong. God is GOOD!
Jeremiah 3:12-13
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.
Only acknowledge your iniquity,
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 in King Josiah's days speaks very clearly with reference to Israel and Judah separately. Both have sinned and worshiped other gods. These are gods placed under trees and on hilltops made from stone, metal or wood. In the Malaysian landscape this would be a familiar thing. I suppose we all have the same ancestry and there would be similar doings, or should I say, failings.
God goes to great lengths to explain their unfaithfulness. And how this has led to greater calamity for them. This separation from Him is showing great issues. The chapter ends with a prayer of repentance or acknowledgement of sin that all of us can repeat. It says, "Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”
Father, I will never be drawn to my old ways for I have experienced You and You are good.
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