Jeremiah 3:11

 Jeremiah 3:11 says, And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.  God's people were divided into two nations at this time, and God called Israel backslidden, and yet said they tried to justify themselves more than Judah, which He called treacherous.  It doesn't matter how many divisions there are in those who call themselves God's people but who have never allowed Jesus Christ to be their Savior and Lord.  They are either backslidden or are dealing treacherously with God.  Verse twelve declares, 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.  God told Jeremiah to go to the backsliding people of people of Israel and call on them to return to Him.  To have been backslidden implies that the people of Israel at one time had a relationship with God, but had forgotten it.  God told Jeremiah that if they would return to Him that His anger would not come on them, and reminded them that He was a merciful and patient God.  This has not changed.  God stands ready to forgive us if we backslide today, and it is because of His great mercy that we have hope to begin with.  Verse thirteen adds, 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.  God told Jeremiah to tell the people that in order to know His mercy they had to first acknowledge their sins, which were widespread.  In order to know God's mercy, we must first acknowledge our sins.  Verse fourteen declares, Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:  Verse fifteen adds, And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.  God said that those who would return to Him, even if it was only one of a city or two of a family, that He would give them pastors according to His own heart who would feed them with knowledge and understanding of God.  God still gives us pastors today to do the same thing, if they listen to Him and put their faith in Him.  Verse sixteen continues, And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.  God said that when the people were restored to Him and multiplied and increased in the land that they would no longer remember the things that guided them in the wilderness, because they would have a personal relationship with God that did not depend on going through priests or anything else.  Verse seventeen states, At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.  This refers to the church according to Matthew Henry, after Jesus came to restore people to God.  Verse eighteen adds, In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.  The people of God are united through Jesus Christ.  Though this was a prophesy concerning a physical reuniting of the people of Israel and Judah, it is also a prophesy concerning all who come to God by faith in Christ.  Verse nineteen concludes, But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.  God said when the people asked how this was possible that it was so because of the people once again recognizing Him as their heavenly Father,  The same is true today.