The prophet Yirmiyahu reprimands the Jewish people and reminds them, in the name of Hashem, of the abundant kindness they have received over the years. Hashem asks, “What wrong did your fathers find in Me that distanced them from Me and resulted in their following the empty practices of idolatry, diminishing the Jews to nothingness? They didn’t turn to Hashem who brought them up from Egypt and led them through the desolate, dangerous desert.” Hashem continues, “And I brought them to the fertile land of Israel to partake of its fruits and goodness. But they defiled My land and disgraced My inheritance.” (Yirmiyahu 2:5) Hashem faults the Jewish nation for rejecting Him and resorting to the shameful ways of idolatry.
Hashem says, “They forsook Me, the source of the waters of life, to dig empty cisterns.” The blame wasn’t limited to the common folk; it even extended to their leaders and prophets. Hashem describes their spiritual decline in the following terms: “The kohanim didn’t revere Me, and the upholders of Torah didn’t publicize My name, the kings rebelled against Me, and the prophets delivered false prophecy.” (2: 8) This bleak picture of the Jewish people was certainly not a comforting one and almost promised immediate retribution and destruction.
Yet, we discover that Hashem’s reaction to all the above was one of concern and compassion. Hashem surprisingly declares, “Therefore, I will continue to quarrel with you and even with your grandchildren.” Hashem vows to send more prophets who will continue to show the people and their descendants the proper path. Although every attempt thus far had been unsuccessful, Hashem remains determined to help His people. Hashem refuses to reject them even after the numerous rejections the nation has shown Him.
The leaders of that time were not loyal to Hashem and didn’t inspire the nation to repent and follow the proper path. Perhaps the next group of leaders would be more loyal and could successfully leave their imprint on the Jewish people. Although the Jews had reduced themselves to the point of emptiness and nothingness, Hashem still cared about them with deep compassion. He wouldn’t leave His people until every last avenue had been exhausted and it had been determined that there was literally no more hope for them.
This incredible degree of Hashem’s compassion is explained in the verses immediately preceding this week’s haftorah. Hashem says, “I remember you for the kindness of your youth, the love of our initial relationship when you blindly followed Me in the desert.” Even after all the offenses the Jewish people committed, Hashem still remembered His initial relationship with His people. Hashem never forgets those precious years where He enjoyed a perfect relationship with His people. Hashem actually longs for the opportunity to return to that relationship and will do virtually anything to restore things to their original perfection. This explains Hashem’s persistence in sending prophets to the Jewish people, attempting to persuade them to return.
In truth, Hashem views the Jewish people from an entirely different perspective than that of their rebellious state. Hashem sees them through a viewpoint of the past. True, now they have gone astray, but Hashem sees them in their righteous past. Regardless of where they stand at this point, Hashem views them as the devout people who followed Him blindly wherever they were led. Hashem therefore expresses His sincere desire that the Jewish nation live up to His lofty image of them, the magnificent vision of the past. It’s through this perspective that the Jewish people deserve every last chance to return to their glorious past.
RABBI ARON LANKRY
