Jeremiah 3:14, commentary and pictures

The verse is the Lord pleading through Jeremiah for His backsliding children to turn and return to Him because He remains married and bound to them in covenant relationship. The marriage bond is presented as the ground of the call, with the Lord as a faithful husband summoning His people back to Himself. It was spoken when outward reform under Josiah had removed idolatrous shrines without changing most hearts, so the people needed genuine loyalty to Jehovah to receive divine favor and prosperity, since further backsliding would bring fatal danger.

Being married means a sacred, enduring covenant bond in which He joins them to Himself, promises to be their God, and claims them as His own, while they are pledged to belong to Him alone, so departure from Him is unfaithfulness to that bond. The marriage image expresses the tender and sacred union between Christ and His church, His redeemed people purchased at the cost of Calvary. Like every other good gift of God, marriage has been perverted by sin, but it is the purpose of the gospel to restore its purity and beauty.

Taking one of a city and two of a family and bringing them to Zion promises that return and restoration remain possible through the gathering of even a very small remnant, whom He will then care for in Zion by giving faithful shepherds and pastors who guide them with knowledge and understanding. The call shows God is merciful, bears long with backsliders, and will not let His anger fall or keep anger forever toward those who turn. He requires only that they acknowledge their iniquity and transgression against Him, calling Him Father and not turning away, and He heals their backslidings, even supplying the confession of shame, sin from youth, and disobedience and trust in Him alone for salvation with which to come, offering mercy, pardon, conversion, and salvation to those who repent with full purpose of heart and lay hold of His promises in humble, repentant faith.