Honeymoon Days of Israel
“I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the desert,
through a land not sown.” -Jeremiah 2:2
I was listening to an interesting sermon where the speaker Dr. Steve Lee describes this verse as God speaking about his honeymoon days with Israel. Though for Israel, wandering through the desert for 40 years may have been the most painful and harrowing experiences, for God they were the most beautiful because of how closely and faithfully Israel clung to God’s side like a newlywed bride. In their time of need, they were finally able to see with unhindered vision that Yahweh was the only hope they had. And during this rare time, they walked in that hope.
It’s not surprising God speaks of these days with such longing as he prepares to bring Israel back to a new wilderness/exile in the days of Jeremiah. Perhaps it is that same deep longing that drives him to lead his people through wilderness today.
