We shall often find the words whoredom and adultery in this book. God loved the nation of Israel, and He chose them to be His own special people, just as a man chooses a woman to be his wife. But if a wife turns from her husband to some other man, it is a terrible sin. And this is what God is telling that guilty nation. He says I loved you, and blessed you, and now you are turning away from me this is adultery.
V.4 Let us take this verse to heart. What a wonderful blessing it would be to us, if we turned always to the Lord for every bit of wisdom that we needed, and let Him guide us always, through His Word.
V.10 We mentioned that there was an outward following of the Lord in the days of Josiah, but the Lord could see their hearts, and here He says that they turned not with their whole heart but “feignedly” that is, just pretending.
V.13 The Lord pleads with them to admit their guilt, for if they would, then He would bless them.
V.14 Even if the whole nation would not repent, the Lord asks any one or two who will, to turn to Him, and He promises to bless them. This is very true today. The whole world is guilty. We cannot expect our country or any other to repent. But we can pray that “one of a city, or two of a family” may turn to the Lord with their whole heart.
V.17-22 God promises blessing to those who will repent and turn to Him.