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Jeremiah 4:1-2 – Swearing to Yahweh
“Oh my God!” is in reality a swearing to God. But the way most people use it, it is an empty, meaningless, string of words. Such is not the kind of swearing God wants.
Returning to Yahweh involves actions such as removing from our lives what is detestable to God (v.1). But there is also a pledge of allegiance and loyalty found in “swearing ‘As Yahweh lives.’” Words though are empty without substance. That substance is truth, justice, and righteousness. God does not want a return in words or outward actions only as seen in 3:10 where Judah didn’t return with all her heart, only in pretense. God does not want a religion of empty ritual. Swearing in truth is meaning what we say, and not just mouthing a promise of loyalty. Swearing in justice is practicing towards others God’s just ways, which will include how we treat the less fortunate among us. Swearing in righteousness is practicing within ourselves that which is right as seen in our worship and relationship with God.
Seeing this in Jeremiah makes me think of confessing Jesus as our Lord and Savior in the New Covenant (Rom.10:9-10). Our confession is a swearing of allegiance to Jesus. This is more than just an empty promise. It has to be the truth, seen in how we love our neighbors as ourselves, and how we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind. When we do this, we have returned to our God.
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