EGW WritingsJeremiah 3

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)

Ms 16a, 1885

4LtMs, Ms 16a, 1885, par. 39

It is a beautiful morning. We have no seasickness as yet. Last evening we enjoyed a beautiful sunset. The broad ocean was all that we could see surrounding us, and the sun went out of sight in the broad waters. We went into the dining room to attend services. Under the Episcopalian services, prayers were read, and chapters in the Old and New Testaments that were very appropriate for the occasion. The hymns sung were excellent in sentiment. The chapter read first was in Jeremiah. The second was in the New Testament in regard to the shipwreck of Paul. I wrote eight pages and prepared a reported article for the press. We were on deck most of the time.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 34, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 34, 1899, par. 33

Those who have been given great light and magnificent truth are to walk circumspectly. The unbelief and stubbornness manifested today are similar to the unbelief and stubbornness which existed in the ranks of ancient Israel. Please read the third chapter. This chapter is a lesson for modern Israel. Let all who claim to be children of God understand that He will not serve with their sins any more than He would with the sins of ancient Israel. God hates hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)

Lt 83, 1886

4LtMs, Lt 83, 1886, par. 2

“Wilt thou not from this time cry unto Me, My Father, Thou art the guide of my youth” (Jeremiah 3:4)? No halfway work will do in your case. You cannot be half on the Lord’s side. He requires all the heart without reserve. You are going in the path where Satan is leading you. You are selfish, blinded, and enslaved by sin. You have had good impulses, but have not yet experienced the regenerating grace of Christ. You are exposed to ruin, imperiling your soul, selling your soul to Satan. The powers God has given you, you are corrupting.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Lt 183, 1902

17LtMs, Lt 183, 1902, par. 19

“Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, which leadest thee by the way which thou shouldest go.” [Isaiah 48:17.] Will you not say from this time, “My Father, Thou art the guide of my youth”? [Jeremiah 3:4.] “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” “This is our God forever; He will be our guide even unto death.” [Psalm 73:24; 48:14.] “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” [Proverbs 3:6.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 60, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 60, 1898, par. 41

This representation is applicable to many who claim to be the people of God. In their blindness they know not at what they stumble. God through His servant says: “And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord of hosts. And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 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 mine anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and has scattered thy ways to the strangers.” [Jeremiah 3:10-13.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)

Ms 45, 1909

24LtMs, Ms 45, 1909, par. 21

Human judgment does not decide any case. The Lord’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways our ways. He is working through divine agencies to draw souls toward purity of service, toward mercy and justice. Who will be drawn? “The Lord hath said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judea. Only acknowledge thy wrong, and proclaim these words to the North, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and if thou repent I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon thee; for I am merciful, saith the Lord; and say to all that repent, I will not keep Mine anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hath scattered thy ways to strangers, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord. If thou repent, I will not keep My anger forever. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you. I will take one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion, and I will give you pastors according to My heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” [See Jeremiah 3:11-15.]

The Desire of Ages

Chapter 31—The Sermon on the Mount

DA 300.4

The worldling may pronounce this sorrow a weakness; but it is the strength which binds the penitent to the Infinite One with links that cannot be broken. It shows that the angels of God are bringing back to the soul the graces that were lost through hardness of heart and transgression. The tears of the penitent are only the raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness. This sorrow heralds a joy which will be a living fountain in the soul. “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God;” “and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 3:13, 12. “Unto them that mourn in Zion,” He has appointed to give “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Isaiah 61:3.

The Faith I Live By

True Sorrow for Sin, May 1

FLB 127.5

The tears of the penitent are only the raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness. This sorrow heralds a joy which will be a living fountain in the soul. “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God”; “and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 3:13, 12. “Unto them that mourn in Zion,” He has appointed to give “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Isaiah 61:3.4The Desire of Ages, 300, 301.

From Heaven With Love

Chapter 31—The Sermon on the Mount

HLv 199.3

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” The mourning of which He speaks does not consist in melancholy and lamentation. We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences, but real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; and as we look on Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for sins that have brought anguish on Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin. This sorrow binds the penitent to the Infinite One. The tears of the penitent are the raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness, heralding a joy which will be a living fountain in the soul. See Jeremiah 3:12, 13; Isaiah 61:3.

With God at Dawn

Only Acknowledge Thine Iniquity, May 22

WGD 144.1

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. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God. Jeremiah 3:12, 13.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 34—Jeremiah

PK 410.1

Through Jeremiah the word of the Lord to His people was: “Return, thou backsliding Israel, ... and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.... Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you.” “Thou shalt call Me, my Father; and shalt not turn away from Me.” “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” Jeremiah 3:12-14, 19, 22.

PK 410.2

And in addition to these wonderful pleadings, the Lord gave His erring people the very words with which they might turn to Him. They were to say: “Behold, we come unto Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.... We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.” Verses 22-25.

From Splendor to Shadow

A True Prophet Always “Builds”

SS 213.3

Jeremiah sought to encourage the men of Judah to lay spiritual foundations broad and deep, by thorough repentance. Long had they been building with material likened by Jeremiah to dross: “Refuse silver they are called, for the Lord has rejected them.” Jeremiah 6:30, RSV. Now they were urged to build for eternity, casting aside the rubbish of apostasy and using as material pure gold, refined silver, precious stones—faith, obedience, and good works—which alone are acceptable to God. The word of the Lord was, “Return, thou backsliding Israel, ... and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, ... for I am married unto you.” Jeremiah 3:12-14.

SS 213.4

And in addition the Lord gave His erring people the very words with which they might turn to Him: “We come unto Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God.” “We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.” Verses 22, 25.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 397, 1906

21LtMs, Lt 397, 1906, par. 6

“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 forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy way to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord. 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: and I will give you pastors according to My heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding, and it shall come to pass, when ye shall 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. And 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. In those days the house of Jacob 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 for their fathers. 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.” [Jeremiah 3:12-19.]

21LtMs, Lt 397, 1906, par. 7

These words were repeated very solemnly to me, “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal thy backslidings. Behold we come unto Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of the mountains; truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. For shame hath devoured the labors of our fathers from their youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. We lie down in shame, and our confusion covereth us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.” [Verses 22-25.]

Christ’s Object Lessons

Chapter 13—Two Worshipers

COL 158.1

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Lord says, “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.” “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you.” 1 John 1:9; Jeremiah 3:13; Ezekiel 36:25.

The Ministry of Healing

God’s Promises

MH 123.2

“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jeremiah 3:13; 1 John 1:9.

Letters to Young Lovers

Marriage Is Like Christ’s Love for His Chosen People

LYL 16.2

“Fear not”, He says; “thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His name, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you.” Isaiah 54:4, 5; Jeremiah 3:14. In the “Song of Songs” we hear the bride’s voice saying, “My Beloved is mine, and I am His.” And He who is to her “the chiefest among ten thousand,” speaks to His chosen one. “Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee.” Song of Solomon 2:16; 5:10; 4:7.

Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing

“Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?”—Matthew 19:3.

MB 64.1

Like every other one of God’s good gifts entrusted to the keeping of humanity, marriage has been perverted by sin; but it is the purpose of the gospel to restore its purity and beauty. In both the Old and the New Testament the marriage relation is employed to represent the tender and sacred union that exists between Christ and His people, the redeemed ones whom He has purchased at the cost of Calvary. “Fear not,” He says; “thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you.” Isaiah 54:4, 5; Jeremiah 3:14. In the “Song of Songs” we hear the bride’s voice saying, “My Beloved is mine, and I am His.” And He who is to her “the chiefest among ten thousand,” speaks to His chosen one, “Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee.” Song of Solomon 2:16; 5:10; 4:7.

From Here to Forever

The Second Angel’s Message

HF 236.4

In the Bible the relation between Christ and His church is represented by marriage. The Lord declares: “I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness.” “I am married unto you.” And Paul says: “I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Hosea 2:19; Jeremiah 3:14; 2 Corinthians 11:2.

The Great Controversy

Chapter 21—A Warning Rejected

GC 381.2

In the Bible the sacred and enduring character of the relation that exists between Christ and His church is represented by the union of marriage. The Lord has joined His people to Himself by a solemn covenant, He promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be His and His alone. He declares: “I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.” Hosea 2:19. And, again: “I am married unto you.” Jeremiah 3:14. And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament when he says: “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2.

GC 381.3

The unfaithfulness of the church to Christ in permitting her confidence and affection to be turned from Him, and allowing the love of worldly things to occupy the soul, is likened to the violation of the marriage vow. The sin of Israel in departing from the Lord is presented under this figure; and the wonderful love of God which they thus despised is touchingly portrayed: “I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest Mine.” “And thou wast exceeding beautiful and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee.... But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown.” “As a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord;” “as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!” Ezekiel 16:8, 13-15, 32; Jeremiah 3:20.

The Great Controversy (1888 ed.)

Chapter 21—A Warning Rejected

GC88 381.1

In the Bible the sacred and enduring character of the relation that exists between Christ and his church is represented by the union of marriage. The Lord has joined his people to himself by a solemn covenant, he promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be his, and his alone. He declares, “I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.” [Hosea 2:19.] And again, “I am married unto you.” [Jeremiah 3:14.] And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament, when he says, “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” [2 Corinthians 11:2.]

GC88 381.2

The unfaithfulness of the church to Christ in permitting her confidence and affection to be turned from him, and allowing the love of worldly things to occupy the soul, is likened to the violation of the marriage vow. The sin of Israel in departing from the Lord is presented under this figure; and the wonderful love of God which they thus despised is touchingly portrayed. “I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.” “And thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty; for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee.... But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown.” “As a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord;” “as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband.” [Ezekiel 16:8, 13-15, 32; Jeremiah 3:20.]

From Here to Forever

Spiritual Adultery

HF 237.1

Unfaithfulness of the church to Christ in allowing worldly things to occupy the soul is likened to violation of the marriage vow. The sin of Israel in departing from the Lord is presented under this figure. “As a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord;” “as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!” Jeremiah 3:20; Ezekiel 16:32.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905)

Ms 164, 1905

20LtMs, Ms 164, 1905, par. 5

“A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel; for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their God. Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” [Jeremiah 3:21, 22.]

20LtMs, Ms 164, 1905, par. 6

What is the response from the erring?—“Behold, we come unto Thee, for Thou art the Lord our God. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains; truly in the Lord is the salvation of Israel. For shame hath devoured the labors of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.” [Verses 22-25.]

Gospel Workers (1915 ed.)

Entering into the Feelings of the Youth

GW 209.2

Jesus calls to every wanderer, “My son, give Me thine heart.” [Proverbs 23:26.] “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” [Jeremiah 3:22.] The youth cannot be truly happy without the love of Jesus. He is waiting with pitying tenderness to hear the confessions of the wayward, and to accept their penitence. He watches for some return of gratitude from them, as the mother watches for the smile of recognition from her beloved babe. The great God teaches us to call Him Father. He would have us understand how earnestly and tenderly His heart yearns over us in all our trials and temptations. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.” [Psalm 103:13.] The mother might sooner forget her child than God could forget one soul that trusts Him.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 3 (1876 - 1882)

Lt 2a, 1878

3LtMs, Lt 2a, 1878, par. 15

You sent Brother Ertzenberger to us as a child of God, to be qualified to enter the missionary field in Europe. We took him in, a stranger, and spared no means to educate him in the English language. We all tried to be his instructors. We took no advantage of his ignorance of our language and our customs. But we labored in our work for God to qualify him for his work. He was humble, hopeful, and God was with him. He returned to you, and there were those who felt jealous that he was bringing too much of American knowledge with him; you thought him lifted up. His testimony was not accepted, and he became very much discouraged. Satan finally succeeded in overcoming him with temptations, and he was lost to the cause of God for years. But the eye of infinite compassion was upon him; and God in mercy let him see the fearful position he was in, and said, “Return unto Me, and I will return unto thee, and heal all thy backslidings.” [Malachi 3:7; Jeremiah 3:22.] And yet this dear brother should walk carefully and tremblingly before God. Just so long as he will cling to the arm of infinite power he will be shielded; but if he trusts to himself, he will surely fall.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Ms 1a, 1890

6LtMs, Ms 1a, 1890, par. 30

The last days are upon us, and Satan is working with all his hellish arts to deceive and destroy souls. Reproofs by testimony are met, almost universally, by the ones corrected and reproved, with, “I believe the testimonies, but I do not understand them.” The Lord has corrected their wrong ways in order to save them from unhappiness, deception, and ruin; but they pass on the same as if light and warnings had never come to them. If they were in harmony with God, they would not be departing from Him. It is because they are so far separated from God that they do not hear His voice as He calls to them, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you,” “and heal all thy backslidings.” [Malachi 3:7; Jeremiah 3:22.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 16, 1892

7LtMs, Lt 16, 1892, par. 34

Christ calls for you. He has given me a message to you. “Return unto me, and I will return unto you and heal all thy backslidings.” [Malachi 3:7; Jeremiah 3:22.] He calls for you to be a laborer together with God. He tells you, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” [John 15:16.] O how true are these words. You did not make the first movement toward Christ, but He made the first movement toward you. He drew you by the cords of His love. He touched your hearts by His grace. Your approach to Him was the response of His drawing. If Jesus had left you alone, you would have perished. Truth you want at any cost.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 76, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 76, 1898, par. 24

The Lord Jesus gave His life for you. He says, “Return unto me, and I will return unto thee, and heal all thy backsliding.” [Malachi 3:7; Jeremiah 3:22.] “Behold the Lord’s arm is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; but your sins have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” [Isaiah 59:1, 2.] But the Lord calls to you, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy, and to our God; for he will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 13, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 13, 1898, par. 6

You do not think that you have wandered so far from God, but you have; and a voice is crying unto you, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” [Malachi 3:7.] “I will heal all thy backslidings.” [Jeremiah 3:22.] This work is yours to see and understand. You need to heed the voice which says to you, “Return.” You say, “This is a hard saying,” but take heed. [John 6:60.] The working of the Spirit of God upon your heart will make you feel your helplessness to save yourself. When you opened the door of your heart to envy, suspicion, and evil surmisings, Satan took possession of your mind; and if you continue the same work, the words of Christ will be applicable to you:

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 110, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 110, 1899, par. 6

My heart yearns after every member of the Wessels family. If Philip had been the faithful steward God designed him to be, the now wayward members of the family would not be on the enemy’s side. If their brother Philip, to whom they looked for counsel, had continued to be a true servant of the Lord Jesus, co-operating with Him, these precious ones would have been helped, their feet would now have been treading the narrow path of self-denial which their Saviour trod. The Lord is still saying, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” [John 6:37.] Thank God, the truth never changes, whatever course poor, tempted souls may pursue. Christ is still calling, “Return unto me, and I will return unto thee, and heal all thy backsliding.” [Malachi 3:7; Jeremiah 3:22.] “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and I will have mercy upon him, and to our God; for he will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:7.]

The Review and Herald

December 4, 1913

RH December 4, 1913, par. 16

At last Jonah had learned that “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” Psalm 3:8. “Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.” Jeremiah 3:23. Men have sold themselves to the enemy of all righteousness. They cannot redeem themselves. Only by accepting Christ as a personal Saviour can human beings be delivered from the power of the enemy.

With God at Dawn

We Are Ashamed, August 5

WGD 219.1

We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God. Jeremiah 3:25.