Jeremiah 

What Does It Mean That God is Married to Backsliders? (Jeremiah 3:14)

To fully explain these verses, it is essential to know this chapter’s context. At the beginning of this chapter, Jeremiah begins the chapter by quoting God(Jeremiah 3:1). Our Lord makes an interesting analogy, as he says, “God says, “They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord,” (Jeremiah 3:1 KJV). The point of this analogy is to show how the people of Isreal act. They reject people, this analogy alluding to God and his people.

He goes on to say, “And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom(or sexual immorality), that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord. And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding(or rebellious) Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion,” (Jeremiah 3:7-14 KJV). We see in the passage quoted that Israel is not faithful to God(Jeremiah 3:11-12), even so, God still loves them and desires for them to return to him(Jeremiah 3:12-14). 

So what does it mean that God is married to backsliders? His marriage is his covenant with Isreal, the backsliders or faithless sons are the people of Israel. His statement means that he is in a covenant(or marriage) with people who backslide or are rebellious.

O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

Read Here!

"Thus saith(or says) the Lord of hosts, Hearken(or listen) not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain(or lead you to futility): they speak a vision of their own heart(or mind), and not out of the mouth of the Lord," (Jeremiah 23:16 KJV).

This verse seems to claim that we should not listen to the prophets, but this would be a misreading of the text. At the beginning of the chapter, God is speaking about the people of Israel, specifically the shepherds or prophets who tend or help the people(Jeremiah 23:2). 

The Lord expands upon this later stating, "As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me, All my bones tremble; I have become like a drunken man, And like a man overcome by wine, Because of the Lord And because of His holy words," (Jeremiah 23:9 KJV). The Lord during this time has felt saddened for the prophets speak in deception(Jeremiah 23:2). "For both prophet and priest are profane(or polluted); yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith(or says or declares) the Lord," (Jeremiah 23:11 KJV). We see that by both the Priests and Prophets, even in the home of the Lord(the temples), they do great wickedness. Some even are prophesying by Baal(a Canaanite deity) and not God and this even led some astray(Jeremiah 23:13). 

God is not saying in verse 16 to not listen to any prophets but to not listen to these corrupt prophets. This is why we must analyze all prophets.