A. Yahweh’s Case Against His People (2:1-37)
Yahweh’s remembrance (“I remember,” v.2) and Israel’s forgetfulness (“My people have forgotten,” v.32) are the basis for his case against his people. Yahweh remembers the time when Israel was a devoted, loving, and holy nation (vv.1-3). The words “devotion” (ḥesed̠), “loved” (.ahab̠â[h]), and “holy” (qōd̠eš) are all covenantal terms. The reference here is to the making of the covenant at Sinai (Ex 19-24). The prophet’s accusation is that Israel does not maintain a living memory of the experience of Yahweh’s grace in the wilderness days. The leaders who are entrusted with the duty to initiate faith and to promote true religion in the land (vv.5, 8; see Dt 6:20-25; 17:14-20; 18:15-22; 33:10) do not remember their responsibility. They practice a religion of falsehood (idols). There is no recognition of Yahweh who alone is the spring of living water (v.13; 17:13; see Jn 7:37-39).
Israel’s involvement in the political events of Jeremiah’s time is the evidence of their rejection of the freedom brought to them by Yahweh (vv.14-19; 36-37). Jeremiah rejects the popular notion that Israel is a slave by birth (v.14). Though freed by the grace of God and adopted as a “son” (Clarke, 259), the people of God behave like a servant bound to a former master (see the law concerning slaves in Ex 21:1-6). Israel shows no trust in Yahweh, whose actions are not immediately visible in the historical scene (see also Isa 8:5-8). The consequence of this evil (rā') of God’s people is evil (rā') from Yahweh (v.19).
God’s people (choice vine) have become useless and corrupt like a wild vine by their refusal to submit themselves to the spiritual principles established by God (vv.20-21). “Instead of becoming true worshippers, and of a holy life and conversation,” they have “become idolaters of the most corrupt and profligate kind” (Clarke, 260). The cause of Israel’s rebellion against God is the corruption of their moral character. The cultic laws provide no ritual for the total cleansing of this degeneration, which is deeply rooted in their inner being (v.22).
Self-righteousness is the claim of a morally degenerate nation (“I am not defiled,” v.23; see also “I am innocent . . . I have not sinned” v.35). When they are confronted with the reality of judgment, their response is “It’s no use” (v.25) because they have gone so far in their love for other gods. This is the claim of those who deny the boundlessness of God’s grace, the depth of his mercy and love, and his strong will to save the repentant sinner.
Disgrace is in store for all who practice foxhole religion (vv.26-28). Yahweh cannot be manipulated. On the Day of Judgment, neither Yahweh, whom they denied, nor the gods, whom they trusted, will come to the rescue of those who practice superficial religion. The former will not hear their cry; the latter cannot hear at all.