Perry Hall
A – BETROTHAL (2:1-3) (1) Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, (2) “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown. (3) “Israel was holy to the LORD, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,” declares the LORD.’”
B – ISRAEL ON TRIAL FOR IDOLATRY (2:4-20) … (8)And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit. (9) “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” declares the LORD, “And with your sons’ sons I will contend. (10) “For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this! (11) “Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit. … (17) “Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking the LORD your God When He led you in the way?
C – ACCUSATION (2:21) (21) “Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?
C’ – VERDICT (2:22) (22) “Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
B’ – ISRAEL ON TRIAL FOR IDOLATRY (2:23-37) (23) “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals’? … So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets, (27) Who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to Me, And not their face; But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’ (28) “But where are your gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you In the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah …
A’ – DIVORCE (3:1-5) (1) God says, “If a husband divorces his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me,” declares the LORD. (2) “Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; Where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them Like an Arab in the desert (i.e., wilderness), And you have polluted a land With your harlotry and with your wickedness. (3) “Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no spring rain. Yet you had a harlot’s forehead; You refused to be ashamed. (4) “Have you not just now called to Me, ‘My Father, You are the friend of my youth? (5) ‘Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken And have done evil things, And you have had your way.”