notes

Main point summary

Other nations remain faithful to their gods even though they are not real gods but the chosen nation of God became unfaithful to the True God. Therefore, be afraid,shocked, and sad because the people of God have forsaken the Fountain of Living Water and dug broken cisterns.

Arc**

editing

OT

Jeremiah 2:10-13

esv

For cross to the coasts of e Cyprus

and see,

actionpurpose

or send to f Kedar

and examine with care;

alternative

see if there has been such a thing.

g Has a nation changed its gods,

h even though they are no gods?

concessive

ideaexplanation

But my people i have changed their glory for b that which does not profit.

Be appalled, j O heavens, at this;

be shocked,

be utterly desolate,

series

declares the Lord ,

for my people have committed two evils:

k they have forsaken l me, the fountain of m living waters,

and hewed out cisterns for themselves,

broken cisterns that can hold no water.

progression

ground

inference

discourse

Notes**

Evil And Foolish Exchange Jeremiah 2:10-13 God declares that the unbelieving nations like Cyprus and Kedar remain faithful to their dieties which can not perform a single miracle and don't have any senses to see, hear, or touch something, but His chosen nation became unfaithful to the One true God. His people exchange their loyalty to God for the worship of baal. The worshippers of baal did sexual activities as they worship baal. Thus, they also worship sex. Therefore the heavens which witness this were appalled, shocked, and totally desolate. Knowing that the people of God committed two evils, first was that they abandoned their enjoyment, love and worship of the true God. The God Who is the fountain of living water; a fountain, not a well for it was unlimited and fresh, living water not dead and powerless, and the metaphor is water because it can satisfy thirst. The implication here is that God's power, resources, and presence are unlimited, pure, alive, reviving, and satisfying. Second, they dug broken cisterns in exchange for the fountain of living water. They "dug" meaning they struggled just to have water. And cistern in those times were pits hewn to collect runoff rain water, and included sand and mud. It was emphasized that the cistern was broken, signifying that it can hold no water. The people of God committed an evil exchange, because they abandoned the True, living, never-ending, powerful, pure and satisfying God Who was always there for them. And it was a foolish exchange, because they already know what God has done to their forefathers but they still chose a man-made idol which is lifeless, powerless, filthy, unsatisfying, and requiring struggle. Let us say along with Jeremiah, "can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, You are the One, O LORD our God! Only You can do such things. So we will wait for You to help us. (Jeremiah 14:22)