Return, Ye Backsliding Children

JULY 9, 2024

 “Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD.” “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD.” “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” (Jeremiah 3:12, 14, 22)

It is a fearful and senseless thing that a believer should backslide. Such mercy has been shown him; and such love has been enjoyed by him. The path that lies ahead only shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day, while great comfort and joy are sacrificed by his backsliding. Backsliding is a wretched business for the man himself, since nothing is gained thereby, and everything is endangered. It is injurious to the whole church to which the backsliders belong, and it is also mischievous to the outside world. There is one immediate duty for the backslider, which is also the immediate remedy for his backsliding. One word sums it up, and it is God’s word, “Return!” This is God’s call to His backsliding children.

The call awakens wonder. There would seem to be many reasons why the Lord should not invite backsliders to return. The first reason, as seen in Verse 1 of this chapter, would be the usual jealousy of love. Note the terrible imagery – a wanton adulteress is allowed to return to her husband. Israel had“played the harlot with many lovers,” Her idolatries are so described. The Prophet Isaiah asked, “Why trimmest thou thy ways to seek love?” The Prophet Hosea reveals how Judah’s sister credited her lovers with giving her all the good things that God had lavished upon her. What amazing mercy that He would again extend his loving arms to this unfaithful wife and say, “Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet return again to me.” Should any be of the opinion that backsliding is no big deal, you had best think again. When a believer forsakes the Lord for a rendezvous with his former idols, it is spiritually adultery. When the voice of an offended Bridegroom is heard calling out in love, “Return ye,” the repentance ought to be immediate, tearful, and resolute.

A second reason that God’s call to return is wonderful; is the abundance of their sin. “Thou hast polluted the land.” The very earth had felt the leprosy of the idolatry. This is a most grievous effect of backsliding. We are to be as salt and light, but if the salt loses its saltiness, and the light becomes darkness, our backsliding will have a polluting effect on the world around us. To God’s children, who are in such a condition, rather than remove them for bringing shame upon His name, He pleads with them to return.

In counting the reasons seen in this chapter alone as to why God’s appeal to His backslidden children is to be wondered at, we see a third reason in Verse 3. They were obstinate in their rebellion. Notwithstanding repeated and severe chastisements, they had withstood. “Thou refusest to be ashamed.” It is sometimes worrisome when we see God’s various methods of discipline resisted, knowing that in each of them God is calling His wayward child to return to his first love. Preaching is ignored; works of providence seem to have no effect. The Prophet says, “Thou hast a whore’s forehead, thou refusest to be ashamed.” To this refusal, we hear the Lord’s tender voice calling still, “Wilt thou not return unto Me?”

How gracious is this appeal. The sense in the original is, “Turn, ye turned away sons, and I will heal your turnings.” The Lord here exchanges threats for promises. He will “heal,” not simply receive His children, but heal their apostasies. Men repent of sin, but God cures it. We are to turn from evil, but God’s work is to destroy the evil. Sin is washed away, not by tears of repentance, but by the blood of Christ. God heals the apostasies themselves, not simply their painful effects.

“Yet sovereign mercy calls, “Return!”

Dear Lord, and may I come?

My vile ingratitude I mourn –

O take the wanderer home!” – Steele