Jeremiah 2:2

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.

Go {H1980} and cry {H7121} in the ears {H241} of Jerusalem {H3389}, saying {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; I remember {H2142} thee, the kindness {H2617} of thy youth {H5271}, the love {H160} of thine espousals {H3623}, when thou wentest {H3212} after {H310} me in the wilderness {H4057}, in a land {H776} that was not sown {H2232}.

"Go and shout in the ears of Yerushalayim that this is what ADONAI says: 'I remember your devotion when you were young; how, as a bride, you loved me; how you followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

Commentary

Jeremiah 2:2 opens with a poignant message from the LORD to the people of Jerusalem through the prophet Jeremiah. This verse serves as a tender, yet firm, reminder of Israel's early devotion to God, setting the stage for the book's subsequent rebukes concerning their profound spiritual decline.

Context

This verse is delivered early in Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, likely during the reign of King Josiah, a period of spiritual reform but also underlying apostasy. God commands Jeremiah to "cry in the ears of Jerusalem," indicating an urgent and public declaration. The nation of Judah, represented by Jerusalem, had largely abandoned the covenant made with God, turning to idolatry and foreign alliances. Here, God recalls a time when their relationship was fresh and committed, a stark contrast to their current state.

Key Themes

  • God's Enduring Memory: The phrase "I remember thee" highlights God's perfect and gracious memory, not just of their failures, but of their past fidelity. This shows His deep personal investment in His people.
  • The Covenant as a Marriage: The imagery of "the kindness of thy youth" and "the love of thine espousals" vividly portrays the covenant relationship between God and Israel as a sacred marriage. God remembers the honeymoon phase, when Israel was devoted and followed Him exclusively. This powerful metaphor is often used in the Old Testament to describe God's relationship with His people (see also Hosea 2:19-20).
  • Israel's Wilderness Faithfulness: "When thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown" refers to the forty years Israel spent wandering after the Exodus from Egypt. This period, though marked by challenges and occasional rebellion, was also a time of unique dependence on God, where they followed Him into an unknown, barren land, trusting Him for sustenance and guidance. It was a time of initial commitment before the temptations of settled life and foreign gods. Deuteronomy 8:2 also reflects on this period of testing and learning dependence.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "kindness" (chesed) in "kindness of thy youth" often denotes steadfast love, loyalty, or covenant faithfulness. It implies a loving devotion that characterized Israel's early adherence to God. "Love of thine espousals" (ahabah) emphasizes a deep, affectionate love, akin to that shared between a bride and groom. These terms underscore the intense emotional bond God felt for His people in their early days.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Remembering Our "First Love": Just as God fondly remembered Israel's early devotion, we are called to remember our own "first love" for Christ (Revelation 2:4). It's a call to reflect on the initial passion, commitment, and dependence we had when we first came to faith.
  • God's Unfailing Grace: Even when we drift or become unfaithful, God remembers our sincere beginnings. His remembrance is not just a rebuke but an invitation to return to that initial, pure relationship.
  • The Wilderness Experience: The "wilderness" can be a metaphor for times in our lives when we are stripped of worldly comforts and forced to rely solely on God. These can be formative periods of deep spiritual growth and intimacy, much like Israel's journey.
  • Call to Repentance: The contrast between past faithfulness and present apostasy serves as a gentle yet firm call to repentance, inviting us to renew our covenant commitment to the LORD.
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Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 16:60

    ¶ Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.

  • Ezekiel 16:8

    Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time [was] the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

  • Jeremiah 11:6

    Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.

  • Isaiah 63:7

    ¶ I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, [and] the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

  • Isaiah 63:14

    As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

  • Hosea 2:15

    And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

  • Deuteronomy 8:2

    And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.