jeremiah 1-2

Read Jeremiah 1-2 at Bible Gateway.

I brought you into a bountiful country,
To eat its fruit and its goodness.
But when you entered, you defiled My land
And made My heritage an abomination.  Jer 2:7

The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’
And those who handle the law did not know Me;
The rulers also transgressed against Me;
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
And walked after things that do not profit. Jer 2:8

Has a nation changed its gods,
Which are not gods?
But My people have changed their Glory
For what does not profit. Jer 2:11

The English word “good” means “favorable, bountiful, fertile; suitable, profitable, advantageous; agreeable, pleasant, wholesome; choice, true, honorable;” and many other such adjectives that describe that which is good as that which profits – causes us well-being, increase, and happiness. This word comes from the Old English word “god” pronounced “goad” with a long o.

Our English word “god, God” also comes from the Old English “god.” In other words, good is God’s quality and characteristic. Goodness is God-like-ness. God’s complaint against His people, is that they have forsaken Him. They forsook Him who is good, and they defiled His gift to them which was good, and changed Him who does profit, who is good, for what does not profit — what is not profitable — what is not good.

He is good – advantageous, favorable, pleasant, agreeable, suitable. His Law is good – He gave it to us so that we would know how to walk profitably (Deu 5:29-33; Pro 4:2; Rom 7:12). Not to profit Him, but to profit us. His gifts are good, which include our calling, our giftings, our spouses, our children, our families, our station in life. Something to remember today. 🙂