Oct. 10, 2005
“Hollywood Marriages”
Jeremiah 3

As I read through the first five chapters in Jeremiah, I could not help thinking about Hollywood marriages. This is in part to watching a special about Britney Spears. You may remember on New Years she married a long time friend Jason Alexander in a wedding chapel in Las Vegas. Fifty-five hours later, the marriage was annulled. The commentator on E-TV said that it was not really a marriage, “just a joke gone too far.” Britney is not the only Hollywood couple with marriages ending quickly. Starts such as Drew Barrymore, Tom Green, Angelina Jolie, Billy Bob Thornton, Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt, and of coarse Elizabeth Taylor and her eight marriages.

Just as Hollywood stars have had trouble being faithful in their marriages for whatever reason, Jeremiah accused Israel of being faithless in their covenant with God. He says that Israel is like a prostitute sitting around watching for a client. Jeremiah is making reference to Israel worshiping other gods when they have committed themselves to worshiping the one true God who delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians.

Just as Jeremiah warns the Israelites about committing adultery with other gods, we are reminded of our covenant with God through Jesus Christ. I fear that sometimes our relationship with God becomes more like a “joke gone too far” than a marriage. We can duck in and out of our commitment to God based on what feels right. However, we are to remain faithful to God by keeping Jesus our first love.

The good news is that Jeremiah tells the people that although they are like “wayward” children, God will heal their “wayward” hearts. God wants to be our first love. I hope we will be faithful to our marriage to the one true God.