The Eleventh Sunday of Israel (OTA)

Jeremiah 4:1-4

“If you return, O Israel,

declares the Lord,

to me you should return.

If you remove your detestable things from my presence,

and do not waver,

² and if you swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’

in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,

then nations shall bless themselves in him,

and in him shall they glory.”

³ For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

“Break up your fallow ground,

and sow not among thorns.

⁴ Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;

remove the foreskin of your hearts,

O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;

lest my wrath go forth like fire,

and burn with none to quench it,

because of the evil of your deeds.”

Return to the Lord! You have abandoned him. You have left his side. You have turned your back on him. You have went off walking on your own. Return to the Lord! It would be great if people would return to his word. It would be great if people would hear his justice and righteousness. It would be great if people would even listen to his freedom.

Return to the Lord! This nation is unjust, willing to bend over backwards for people to let all responsibility slide out the window. The world is more than happy to stand up for so called outcasts, who are abominations and act in pure unrighteousness. This world lets murders walk their streets. It breads hate, and is more than happy to create a stigma over righteousness.

Return to the Lord! God is calling you to repentance. He is welcoming you back to him with open arms. He desires to plant his word in your heart. He is more than happy to circumcise the foreskin of your hearts. The Holy Spirit comes to you to remove your wickedness. He comes to wash you in the blood of Christ. He comes to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. “If you return, O Israel, … to me you should return.” God will make you perfect, holy, and complete.