When NATIONS play the harlot

 

James 4:4

King James Version

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 

know ye not that the friendship of the world 

is enmity with God? 

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world 

is the enemy of God.

Adultery doesn't only refer to human practices.

It also refers to other forms of human ways.

Stuff that incurs GOD's wrath.

Such as how Israel had sinned:

Jeremiah 3:6-11 

King James Version

6 The Lord said also unto me 

in the days of Josiah the king, 

Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? 

she is gone up upon every high mountain 

and under every green tree, 

and there hath played the harlot.

7 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.

8 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.

9 And it came to pass 

through the lightness of her whoredom, 

that she defiled the land, 

and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister 

Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, 

but feignedly, 

saith the Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto me, 

The backsliding Israel hath justified herself 

more than treacherous Judah.

GOD even likened Israel to an erring wife.

Jeremiah 3:1 

King James Version

3 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.

The LORD doesn't mince words regarding Jerusalem's adultery.

Jeremiah 13:27 

King James Version

27 I have seen thine adulteries, 

and thy neighings, 

the lewdness of thy whoredom, 

and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. 

Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! 

wilt thou not be made clean? 

when shall it once be?

The LORD also spoke of Israel's treachery.

Jeremiah 3:20-22 

King James version

20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth 

from her husband, 

so have ye dealt treacherously with me, 

O house of Israel, 

saith the Lord.

21 A voice was heard upon the high places, 

weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: 

for they have perverted their way, 

and they have forgotten the Lord their God.

22 Return, 

ye backsliding children, 

and I will heal your backslidings. 

Behold, we come unto thee; 

for thou art the Lord our God.

And yet, our merciful GOD calls to Israel to return to her place as His chosen nation.

Jeremiah 3:12-15 

King James Version

12 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.

13 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.

14 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:

15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, 

which shall feed you 

with knowledge and understanding.

I hope Israel realizes how loved she is by the Lord.

For her future has already been prophesied.

In GOD is the salvation of Israel.

Jeremiah 3:23 

King James Version

23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, 

and from the multitude of mountains: 

truly in the Lord our God 

is the salvation of Israel.

Related material:

On backsliding ISRAEL

On repentant ISRAEL

Israel's FAITHFUL GOD

Updated 20 October 2023