1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou went after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
God remembers the enthusiasm the Israelites had for Him when they were still wandering in the wilderness.
3 "'Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of His increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them,'" says the LORD.
4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5 Thus says the LORD, "What iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
"Why have you and your ancestors left My service?"
6 "Neither said they, 'Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?'
They didn't even bother to notice God had removed His presence from them.
7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled My land, and made Mine heritage an abomination.
God provided a beautiful, fruitful land for them and they not only didn't notice, they destroyed the land with sin.
8 The priests said not, "Where is the LORD?" and they that handle The Law knew Me not: the pastors also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
The entire nation went after false gods instead of the One who worked miracles to give them their land.
9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, says the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
People generally believed that each land had a certain god, and as long as they were in that land they worshiped that god. They also tended to follow in their parent's footsteps religiously and would worship their parent's gods. Yet Israel/Judah had forsaken their ancestor's God to worship their neighbor's gods.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, says the LORD.
13 For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
The Results of Israel's Sin
14 Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he spoiled?15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
Egypt?
17 Have thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou have forsaken the LORD thy God, when He led thee by the way?
This has all happened to you because of Judah's disobedience.
18 And now what have thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? Or what have thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou have forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, says the Lord GOD of hosts.
It was a bad decision to quit serving God.
20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou said, "I will not transgress;" when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wandered, playing the harlot.
Israel/Judah kept saying they would serve God but kept worshiping false gods.
21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me?
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, says the Lord GOD.
Israel's Unfaithfulness
23 How can thou say, "I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim?" See thy way in the valley, know what thou have done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;Evidently Israel and Judah were claiming they hadn't committed idolatry. Pretty stupid to thin God couldn't see them.
24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou said, "There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go."
Israel was just determined that they were going to worship false gods.
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
27 Saying to a stock, "Thou are my father; and to a stone, Thou have brought me forth:" For they have turned their back unto Me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, "Arise, and save us."
Israel/Judah had the gall to blatantly serve other gods, then call on the true God when they got in trouble and expect Him to save them.
28 But where are thy gods that thou have made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
"Let your fake gods save you." says God.
29 "Wherefore will ye plead with Me? Ye all have transgressed against Me," says the LORD.
"Why are you begging Me for help? You are the ones who left Me." says God.
30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? A land of darkness? Wherefore say my people, "We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?"
"Have I hidden from you, Israel? Why are you saying you are too grown up for Me?"
32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.
33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? Therefore have thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
35 Yet thou say, "Because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from Me." Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou say, "I have not sinned."
36 Why gad thou about so much to change thy way? Thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
37 Yea, thou shall go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD has rejected thy confidences, and thou shall not prosper in them.