| A LOVER'S QUARREL |
| The violent emotions of a scorned lover. |
| "You have lived as a prostitute with many lovers - would you now return to me?" declares the Lord. 3:1 |
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| The call comes late, after midnight, to a police officer who smiles and shakes his head. Then, siren screaming, he races toward the house. Neighbors heard a woman's cries. Someone saw a man threatening her with a knife. As the police officer pulls up to the house, he hears her high-pitched shrieks. She is begging for mercy - from her husband. Such cases are called "domestic disturbances." They happen nearly every night, and particularly on weekends. The police usually dislike getting called in. Both husband and wife can turn on the person who is "interfering." Lovers' quarrels may seem silly to outsiders, but they are deadly serious to those involved. Some turn violent, even murderous. The most precious, desired gift anyone can offer has been abused. Love has been betrayed. Lovers react to that with violent emotions. Words that Tear His Heart It is a lover's quarrel that Jeremiah exposes in chapters 2 and 3, and the emotions are violent and helpless. Again and again God makes his charge against Judah. Of all the nations, he had picked her; he had tenderly offered his protection and care. But she keeps sleeping with other men. He warns her again and again, but she ignores him. She saw how he divorced her sister Israel. Doesn't she know he will do the same to her? God's words bleed pain. He accuses as though he cannot help himself, although his words tear his own heart. First, he is tender, full of memories: "I remember . . . how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert" (2:2). But then, you "tore off your bonds; you said, 'I will not serve you!' Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute" (2:20). In disgust, God |