Charles Spurgeon Commentary Jeremiah 2:9-11

"Wherefore I will yet contend with you, saith Jehovah, and with your children`s children will I contend. For pass over to the isles of Kittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there hath been such a thing. Hath a nation changed [its] gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit." — Jeremiah 2:9-11 (ASV)

Therefore I will yet plead with you, says the LORD, and with your children’s children I will plead. For pass over the Isles of Chittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there is such a thing. Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

How powerfully this is put! No other nation gave up its gods.

Though they were no gods, but mere images of clay or gold, they would not change them. They stuck to their idolatries with wonderful tenacity. But God's people gave up the true God to worship the demons of the nations around them.

And is it not an unhappy thing that there are now some who, at least calling themselves God's people, go back to the world and seem to be more in love with it than ever before? It is a horrible thing that is done.

I have heard of a chieftain of an Indian tribe whose nephew was converted to the faith, but who, after a short time, fell into sin and renounced his profession; the old chief would always answer all the missionary's teaching with this argument: "My nephew tried it and gave it up. He ought to know." Well, when this was told to the young man, it broke his heart and happily brought him back to the God he had forsaken.

Perhaps there are some in the world who are gathering excuses for continuing in sin from the unhappy conduct of those who backslide. "Look at him," they say, "how hot and zealous he was, and see what he is now." Can you bear the thought, backslider?

If there remains a spark of love to Christ in your soul, you will feel bitterly the sorrow that others should make an excuse for blasphemy and for rebellion against Christ because of your evil conduct. Oh, pray tonight: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit.

Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead. For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

God tells them to go to the West, across the Mediterranean, to Chittim, that is, probably Cyprus, or to go to the East, away there to Kedar, or Arabia, and see whether any Gentile nation ever changed its gods, which really were no gods. "And yet," says the Lord, "here is a people that knew the one living and true God, but they have turned aside to idols: My people hath changed their glory for that which doth not profit." O friend, if there is no truth in religion, I do not wonder that you give it up! But if you ever knew its blessed sweetness, if Christ was ever precious to you, if you did once enjoy the gospel of his grace, how is it that you have grown cold towards it, and departed from its ways?