What makes for true repentance? (Jer 3:15-4:4)

A former colleague was looking forward to a trip with a friend to a two-day festival in another city. It was a special thirtieth birthday treat to hear her favourite band and her friend got her tickets. They agreed to meet up at the train station and travel together, but the friend failed to show up. Ten minutes passed, twenty, then the train left, too. My colleague rang her but got no response. She tried to negotiate a change of tickets for the next train but without success. Later the friend asked my colleague’s forgiveness in tears. She was genuinely contrite for ruining the birthday treat and the two reconciled. However, a month or so later the friend let her down again, there was again remorse and tears, but my colleague struggled to forgive. It seemed that despite all the penitence, the friendship was not a priority for the other person.

A picture of true restoration

Incidents like this may make us wander what true repentance looks like and this is the issue that today’s reading reflects on. First, the passage paints a picture of restoration as if to say, ‘This could be your life, if only you turned to God!’ (Jer 3:15-18). In the old days, the ark of the covenant represented God’s presence, and His throne was thought to be between the cherubim (2 Sam 6:2; the angel figures decorating the top of the ark’s lid). However, the ark later disappeared for good, probably around the Babylonian deportation, and this would have distressed the exiles. God’s promise was that it will not even be missed because His throne will be Jerusalem itself (Jer 3:16-17), so that His presence and kingship will be evident to all. True repentance leads to a restored relationship with God where He occupies His rightful place as King in our lives and where we can know Him to be near.

Moreover, when the relationship with God is right, it also affects our horizontal connections. Thus, the long-time rift between northern and southern kingdom (Israel and Judah) will be healed with God’s people united under Him (Jer 3:18), with responsible leadership (shepherds), who will teach and guide them with true understanding (Jer 3:15; unlike Jer 2:8). Further, even outsiders (the nations) will be drawn to God (Jer 3:17 cf. Isa 2:1-4; Mic 4:1-3).

What stands in the way?

What stands in the way of such wonderful restoration? The issue is not God’s unwillingness, but the people’s devious behaviour, where the Lord is simply not a priority (Jer 3:19-20). There are remorse and tears, even the right words, an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and a humble posture (Jer 3:21-25). It seems genuine, and perhaps it is heartfelt while it lasts. Yet, the next few verses that still belong with this section continue the theme and highlight what is missing. Repentance is measured not so much by the depth of emotion, but by the actions and attitude that follow from it. If the people get rid of their idols and not waver between them and the Lord, then their repentance will be a genuine return to God and their appeal to Him (‘as the Lord lives’) in support of their commitment will indeed be truthful (Jer 4:1-2).

What it takes to change

Such repentance, however, involves radical change that can be compared to the hard labour of breaking up fallow ground or to the pain of cutting away skin (Jer 4:3-4). When sin is attractive and has become second nature, then getting rid of it and changing our ways hurt. The call to act in line with repentance and show fruit of that inward turning is echoed throughout Scripture (circumcise your heart – Deut 10:16; work out your salvation – Phil 2:12). At the same time, we cannot do it without Him and this, too, is repeated throughout Scripture (God will circumcise your heart to love Him – Deut 30:6; God is at work in us – Phil 2:13). While seemingly contradictory, the two statements belong together. We cannot do it without Him, and He will not do it without our permission. Nevertheless, what encouragement that the God who calls us to profound, even painful, transformation is the very person who promises to heal our unfaithfulness (Jer 3:22).

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