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"In the time of their trouble"

Text: Jeremiah 2:27

WORSHIPPING TREES AND STONES

The Lord pointed out the beliefs of Judah to Jeremiah. It was hard to understand and accept that the nation had come to this spiritual state!

“Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’
And to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’
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.'”
Jeremiah 2:27

1. “Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.'”

2. Archaeological findings

a) Wooden and Stone Pillars have been found in excavated sites in Israel.

b) The wooden pillar

i) This was the symbol of Asherah, a major female Canaanite deity.

ii) The word “tree” is symbolically represented by a wooden pillar.

c) The stone pillar

i) This was the symbol of Baal, a major male Canaanite deity.

ii) The word “stone” refers to a stone pillar.

3. A satirical statement

a) The tree represented Asherah, yet it was called “father”.

b) The stone represented Baal, yet he was attributed with the act of giving birth.

c) This satirical observation served to highlight the confusion of Judah in its thoughts.

4. “For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face”

a) To turn one’s back was the height of rudeness.

b) To turn the face to God was not done!

c) Israel had deliberately turned its back on their Covenant LORD!

5. “But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.'”

a) Inevitably, trouble will come.

b) The nation would then turn to God:

i) Asking God to arise.

ii) Pleading with the Lord to save.

c) Crying out to God was done:

i) Out of desperation and despair.

ii) Not necessarily out of faith in the LORD.