Jeremiah 2:33-37 – Be careful not to deceive ourselves

From Jeremiah 2:29-32, we saw how God had compared Judah to an incorrigible self-centered child, a pilgrim that rejects direction, and even a bride that had forgotten her status. Now lastly, in Jeremiah 2:33-35, God compares Judah to an accomplished harlot. So adept was she in her harlotry that even the wicked woman, the vilest harlot was learning new ways from her immorality. The “wicked woman” was probably a reference to Baal. God was pointing to their engagement in worshipping this false god.  In worshipping her, Judah did not even have any qualms about shedding innocent blood.

Judah had become so self-deluded that even their conscience was rendered totally dull. Thus she could not see even identify her own flaws. The last part of verse 34 and verse 35 show how the nation had deceived themselves in saying that “I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.” Since they had the cheek to claim their innocence, God blatantly assured them that He would deal with their self-denial. So in the second half of verse 35, God outrightly told them, “Behold, I will enter into judgment with you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.”

In Jeremiah 2:36-37, God was puzzled that Judah still chose to gravitate toward Egypt and Assyria, even when these nations had proven to be untrustworthy. So He warned Judah that the nation would be harmed and shamed by these treacherous friends. In verse 37, God warned Judah that they would finally have to surrender and be sent into exile, for turning to Egypt and Assyria. For God, Himself had rejected these nations.  

Judah’s self-deception had caused the nation to think that the situation was alright when it was far from so. We can see that self-deception is a dangerous thing. It causes a person to hold on to what had been perceived wrongly. It causes a person to embrace beliefs that are unhelpful and certainly not in his best interest. The result will always be different from what he had thought. So Paul encourages us not to think too highly of ourselves. He urged us in 1 Corinthians 10:12 saying, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed that he does not fall.” And again Galatians 6:7 says,  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Truth is the best way to remedy self-delusion. For when we know the truth, the truth will set us free.