You stubborn OX! You broke the yoke......

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!
    Wow!  Poor Jeremiah, he truly was a voice crying out in the wilderness and no one listening.
Jeremiah 2:²⁰ For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
    Let's break this down a little bit.  This verse portrays a stubborn ox, one who has sinned, and have broken God's law. i.e. broken thy yoke and burst thy bands.  And saying "I will not transgress" or in other words "I will not serve you."  
   Look at every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest - these are examples of idolatry.  Following false gods, worshiping false gods and yet had said I will not transgress.  This is a definite example of "doing in on your own" and forsaking God's help.
   Playing the harlot - whoa - how many times have you and I done this?  Harlot aka prostitute - just stop and think back - have you ever prostituted your Christian beliefs.  UH, NO, NOT ME!  Yeah, right!  What about the time you did not stand up for God, or stand firmly on the Christian principles of love your neighbor.  Said something against your neighbor (gossip)?  Think about this for a moment!  Huh?   
   ²¹ Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
   This is easy to read and figure out.  Israel have become a degenerate vine.  If "weed" vines or seeds come into your good vines - they become cross bred or tainted.  Israel's sin has been so great that there is nothing they can do to cleanse it, to make it the pure vine it once was.
  ²² For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God.
   Nitre is an Egyptian alkali mineral and soap or potash used for washing.  The stain of sin is more than skin deep.  Israel had stains that could not be washed out, even with the strongest cleansers.
   Spiritual cleansing must reach deep into the heart; this is a job that God alone can do.  Do not ignore the effect of sin and just "hope" they will go away.  Your sin has caused a deep stain that only God can remove; you have to be willing to let God cleanse you.  Israel was not at this time.  America is not at this time.  Great food for thought.  Love you all.
   In Christ's Love and Grace
      Johnny