Jeremiah 2:24
A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
The untamed desert animal rushing after its own desire pictures backslidden Judah and Israel in unrestrained unfaithfulness, whose wickedness is laid bare as worse than the heathen. That unfaithfulness was turning from Jehovah who made heaven and earth to the nations and false gods, seeking the world's help and earthly powers instead of relying on God, and confusion and ruin follow. Espoused to the Lord as His pure bride, His people became a harlot by unlawful connection with the world and the kings of the earth, for any union of the church with the world or with the State is adultery against God. Yet the chapter is a strong plea to backsliders that there is hope for those who have willingly departed like a wife leaving her husband, for God calls them to return with all the heart and promises to heal their backslidings and not cause His anger to fall.
Words and Setting
The image of a wild ass pursuing its own desires portrays Israel's unrestrained spiritual unfaithfulness, with turning from God to idolatry and to other powers as spiritual fornication contrary to the church's proper union with Christ. The word rendered wind means roo-agh. The verse belongs to the description of backslidden Judah and Israel, whose wickedness is exposed as worse than the heathen.
It pictures God's people turning from God to the nations, seeking the world's help and influence and earthly powers instead of relying on God, and confusion follows. That turning was from Jehovah who made heaven and earth to false gods worshiped on every high hill and mountain and under green trees. Looking to the hills and mountains for help was looking to false gods and hoping for help from them.
Leaning upon Egypt fails, and turning to Assyria leaves her spoiled and made naked, ending blindly in destruction.
Unfaithfulness as Adultery
The Jewish church was espoused to the Lord but became a harlot through unfaithfulness to God. She became a harlot in the same manner as Babylon, by unlawful connection with the world and with the kings of the earth, seeking the friendship of the world instead of keeping herself as a chaste virgin espoused to Christ. Any union between the church and the world, or between the church and the State in any way, is fornication and adultery against God. The church is His pure, unsullied bride married to her Divine Spouse, and when she turns from His instruction and seeks other lovers, worldly powers and nations, she commits adultery against Him by departing from God.
That spiritual fornication of turning from God to idolatry and other powers is contrary to the church's proper union with Christ. The verse presents God dealing with His people as with a marriage covenant broken by unfaithfulness. An untrue husband does not free his wife to marry another without a legal divorce, but she is justified in separating from him rather than partaking in his sin by living with him while he lives with a harlot, and she may take him back if he repents without violating the marriage law.
Israel's unfaithfulness and spiritual adultery were among her greatest sins, shown in Jeremiah 2:20-29. Yet God welcomed Israel back to Himself afterward. This proves that fornication need not forever separate married persons.
Call to Return
The whole chapter is a strong plea to backsliders, showing that there is hope for those who have turned away. Israel willingly and sinfully departed from God like a wife leaving her husband. Yet God calls the backsliding people to return and promises to heal them, so that those who have lost their living connection with Him may return and be restored.
God pleads with backsliders to turn and return. He calls His children married to Him to come out from the world and be separate and to return to Zion. Backsliders and all others are already redeemed by Christ giving Himself, and God will accept what He has purchased when it is delivered. Cherished sin alone separates from God, and he who gives it all up and returns to God with all the heart, though it may be the thousandth time, will find a loving Father who will not cause His anger to fall and will heal backslidings.
The wild ass accustomed to the wilderness pictures a person untamed by grace and resistant to restraint. Meekness changes that natural temper. It brings the soul under godly guidance. It lays aside enmity and the impulse to harm.