Jeremías 3:12-22

12 Ve, y clama estas palabras hacia el aquilón, y di: Vuélvete, oh rebelde Israel, dijo el SEÑOR; no haré caer mi ira sobre vosotros, porque Misericordioso soy, dijo el SEÑOR, ni guardaré para siempre el enojo

13 Conoce, empero, tu iniquidad, porque contra el SEÑOR tu Dios te has rebelado, y tus caminos has derramado a los extraños debajo de todo árbol umbroso, y no oíste mi voz, dice el SEÑOR

14 Convertíos, oh hijos rebeldes, dijo el SEÑOR, porque yo soy vuestro Señor, y yo os tomaré uno de una ciudad, y dos de una familia, y os introduciré en Sion

15 Y os daré pastores según mi corazón, que os apacienten con ciencia y con inteligencia

16 Y acontecerá, que cuando os multiplicareis y creciereis en la tierra, en aquellos días, dijo el SEÑOR, no se dirá más: Arca del Pacto del SEÑOR; ni vendrá al pensamiento, ni se acordarán de ella, ni la visitarán, ni se hará más

17 En aquel tiempo llamarán a Jerusalén: Trono del SEÑOR, y todos los gentiles se congregarán a ella en el nombre del SEÑOR en Jerusalén; ni andarán más tras la dureza de su corazón malvado

18 En aquellos tiempos irán de la Casa de Judá a la Casa de Israel. Y vendrán juntamente de tierra del aquilón a la tierra que hice heredar a vuestros padres

19 Pero yo dije: ¿Cómo te pondré por hijos, y te daré la tierra deseable, la heredad de codicia de los ejércitos de los gentiles? Y dije: Padre mío me llamarás, y no te apartarás de en pos de mí

20 Mas como la mujer quiebra la fe de su compañero, así prevaricasteis contra mí, oh Casa de Israel, dijo el SEÑOR

21 Voz sobre las alturas fue oída, llanto de los ruegos de los hijos de Israel; porque han torcido su camino, del SEÑOR su Dios se han olvidado

22 Convertíos, hijos rebeldes, sanaré vuestras rebeliones. He aquí nosotros venimos a ti; porque tú eres el SEÑOR nuestro Dios

Jeremías 3:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 3

In this chapter the sins of the people of Israel and Judah are exposed; particularly their idolatry, signified by playing the harlot; which is aggravated by the number of lovers or idols they had worshipped; by the many places where they had committed it; by their impudence in doing it; and by the bad consequence of it, showers of rain being withheld from them on that account, Jer 3:1-3 and the grace of God towards them is abundantly declared by frequent calls unto them to repent and turn to him, and this after putting them away, which is not usual, Jer 3:1,8, the Lord expostulates with them, and puts words into their mouths, what they should say to him, even after they had spoken and done as evil things as they could, Jer 3:4,5 the sin of Judah is particularly aggravated, by having seen what Israel, or the ten tribes, had done; their impenitence, notwithstanding the divine call; their going into captivity for their sin; and yet all this had no effect on Judah, to restrain them from the like sins, and to engage them to repentance; so that, of the two, the men of Judah were most to blame, Jer 3:6-11, wherefore the prophet is bid to go towards the north, where Babylon lay, and Israel were carried captive, and call upon them to return to the Lord, and proclaim his grace and mercy to them, only insisting upon an acknowledgment of their sins, their idolatry and disobedience, Jer 3:12,13 and next the call to them to return is repeated; to which they are encouraged by observing the relations, they stood in to him, which continued, by promising to bring a remnant of them to Zion, and give them pastors approved of by him, and profitable to them, Jer 3:14,15 which respect Gospel times, and the latter day, when the ceremonial law would be abrogated, Jer 3:16, the Gentiles called, Jer 3:17 and an entire agreement between Judah and Israel, Jer 3:18 and yet the Lord expresses a concern how he should reckon them as his children, and treat them as such, who had behaved so ill towards him; but his grace gets over the difficulties; finds out a way, by putting it into their mouths to call him their Father, and not turn away from him, Jer 3:19 and this, notwithstanding their great treachery to him, perversion of their ways, and forgetfulness of the Lord, Jer 3:20,21, and they are again exhorted to repent and turn, with a promise of healing their backslidings, which has such an effect upon them, as to engage them to come to him, Jer 3:22 acknowledging their salvation is only in him, and not in their idols; and that sin was the cause of all their calamities; and that shame and confusion of face belonged unto them on that account, Jer 3:23-25.