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Judah, the unfaithful wife, can still return to the Lord, her husband.

BibleGateway: Jeremiah 3:1-13

ESV Text: Jeremiah 3:1-13


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:34

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     1 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. 2 Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. 3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. 4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? 5 Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

     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.

     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.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 279:
Today Thy Mercy Calls Us

— Organ Audio

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1. Today Thy mercy calls us 
To wash away our sin. 
However great our trespass, 
Whatever we have been, 
However long from mercy 
Our hearts have turned away, 
Thy precious blood can cleanse us 
And make us white today. 

2. Today Thy gate is open, 
And all who enter in 
Shall find a Father’s welcome 
And pardon for their sin. 
The past shall be forgotten, 
A present joy be given, 
A future grace be promised, 
A glorious crown in heaven. 

3. Today our Father calls us, 
His Holy Spirit waits; 
His blessed angels gather 
Around the heavenly gates. 
No question will be asked us 
How often we have come; 
Although we oft have wandered, 
It is our Father’s home. 

4. 0 all-embracing Mercy, 
0 ever-open Door, 
What should we do without Thee 
When heart and eye run o’er? 
When all things seem against us, 
To drive us to despair, 
We know one gate is open, 
One ear will hear our prayer.