“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
God said this to Jeremiah in reference to the people of Israel.
You know what’s so great about this line? God said it while His people were in exile. In exile because of their many, many sins. An exile that they were warned time and again would happen if they didn’t stop sinning.
God punished them. Yes, it’s true. But when He spoke to them, it wasn’t to say, “I told you so.” It wasn’t to say, “I’m done with you now.” It wasn’t to say, “I have nothing for you anymore.”
Instead, God spoke with love. He turned to the very people that had rejected Him. The very people that had thrown His love back in His face. He turned to them and assured them of His love. Everlasting love (in Hebrew, ‘always’ or ‘forever’ love). He turned to them and assured them that He only wants—has only ever wanted—what’s best for them. Loving kindness (in Hebrew, God’s never ending, selfless, merciful love).
No vengeful words.
No sarcasm.
Just love.
We reject God even today.
We look at His love and tell Him that it isn’t enough.
We look at Him and tell Him He isn’t enough.
And He reminds us, even today, that He loves us.
He still speaks to His people in exile. And He says:
You know what’s so great about this line? God said it while His people were in exile. In exile because of their many, many sins. An exile that they were warned time and again would happen if they didn’t stop sinning.
God punished them. Yes, it’s true. But when He spoke to them, it wasn’t to say, “I told you so.” It wasn’t to say, “I’m done with you now.” It wasn’t to say, “I have nothing for you anymore.”
Instead, God spoke with love. He turned to the very people that had rejected Him. The very people that had thrown His love back in His face. He turned to them and assured them of His love. Everlasting love (in Hebrew, ‘always’ or ‘forever’ love). He turned to them and assured them that He only wants—has only ever wanted—what’s best for them. Loving kindness (in Hebrew, God’s never ending, selfless, merciful love).
No vengeful words.
No sarcasm.
Just love.
We reject God even today.
We look at His love and tell Him that it isn’t enough.
We look at Him and tell Him He isn’t enough.
And He reminds us, even today, that He loves us.
He still speaks to His people in exile. And He says:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
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