The prophet Jeremiah is sent out on a reconnaissance mission to see if a pagan nation would exchange their deities for a different one. Thus, knowing full well that he would find nothing.
“Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.” (Jeremiah 2:11, ESV)
“Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.” (Jeremiah 2:11, NIV)
“Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!” (Jeremiah 2:11, NLT)
Here the prophet Jeremiah is sent out on a reconnaissance mission to discover whether or not a pagan nation has ever exchanged their deities for another one. Of course, it was a forgone conclusion that he would find nothing.
How is it possible for a chosen people to allow this to occur?
“for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13, ESV)
““My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13, NIV)
““For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” (Jeremiah 2:13, NLT)
Instead of partaking of that which is pure and fresh from a divine source the choice was made to instead prefer to drink from a cistern that wafts with the aroma from a cesspool.
The implication:
“Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord,” (Jeremiah 2:12, ESV)
“Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 2:12, NIV)
“The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 2:12, NLT)
Perhaps this is why Jonathan Edwards, in his "Treatise Concerning Religious Affections" described us as lying in a pool of blood from self-inflicted wounds unable to extricate ourselves (paraphrase mine). This written at the quenching of the period of revival referred to as the "Great Awakening."
It is by this means, that the daughter of Zion in this land now lies on the ground, in such piteous circumstances as we now behold her; with her garments rent, her face disfigured, her nakedness exposed, her limbs broken, and weltering in the blood of her own wounds, and in no wise able to arise, and this, so quickly after her late great joys and hopes: Lam. 1:17, “Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries shall be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.”
Edwards, J. (1996). A treatise concerning religious affections: in three parts ... (p. x). Logos Research Systems, Inc. (Public Domain)
Even the Supreme Court of the United States of America recognized the heritage of this grand experiment in a republican form of government.
"If we pass beyond these matters to a view of American life, as expressed by its laws, its business, its customs, and its society, we find every where a clear recognition of the same truth. Among other matters, note the following: the form of oath universally prevailing, concluding with an appeal to the Almighty; the custom of opening sessions of all deliberative bodies and most conventions with prayer; the prefatory words of all wills, "In the name of God, amen;" the laws respecting the observance of the Sabbath, with the general cessation of all secular business, and the closing of courts, legislatures, and other similar public assemblies on that day; the churches and church organizations which abound in every city, town, and hamlet; the multitude of charitable organizations existing every where under Christian auspices; the gigantic missionary associations, with general support, and aiming to establish Christian missions in every quarter of the globe. These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation. In the face of all these, shall it be believed that a Congress of the United States intended to make it a misdemeanor for a church of this country to contract for the services of a Christian minister residing in another nation?"
Wherein does this affliction lie that precipitates such a "slouching toward Gamora?"
“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:28, ESV)
ἀδόκιμος adókimos; gen. adokímou, masc.–fem., neut. adókimon, adj. from the priv. a (1), without, and dókimos (1384), acceptable. Unapproved, unworthy, spurious, worthless. A reprobate abominable mind, a mind to be abhorred by God and man.
Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.
The "them" referenced here is us! This is the crux of the human affliction apart from a union with Jesus Christ.
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