Jeremiah 3:19
But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me. But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
The appeal was pressed upon Judah after Josiah's reformation had cleansed the land of idolatrous shrines while the hearts of the multitude remained untransformed, when truth had sprung up with promise but was being choked as by thorns. To backsliding Israel it offers a place among God's children and a pleasant land, a rich and goodly heritage among the nations. It calls Israel to address God as Father and to remain faithful without turning away from Him.
It is God's promise of restoration to backsliding Israel upon their return, expressing His desire for a close and lasting father-child relationship. It makes divine favor and prosperity dependent on loyalty to God, and it was urged to arouse the nation to its danger, warning that another such backsliding would be fatal. The inheritance and restored relationship also fit the plan for transforming grace to reach both Jews and Gentiles.