Jeremiah 3 · Grade 5
Return, You Backsliding Children
Read and Think
Jeremiah 3 continues the courtroom case of chapter 2. God's people had broken faith with him. In the days of Josiah, God pointed to two sisters. Backsliding Israel, the northern kingdom, had been sent away. Treacherous Judah saw this, yet followed the same path and returned only in pretense. God concluded that Israel had shown herself more righteous than Judah.
Surprisingly, the response is an invitation. Jeremiah was to proclaim toward the north that Israel should return; God would not look in anger, for he is merciful and would not keep anger forever. The one requirement was honesty. They had to admit their iniquity and that they had not obeyed his voice. God promised shepherds according to his heart, a day when the ark would no longer be missed because Jerusalem itself would be called Yahweh's Throne, and a reunion of Judah and Israel.
The final verses form a model of repentance. God says, Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backsliding. The people answered that they had come to him, for he was Yahweh their God. They admitted that help from the hills was in vain and that their salvation was in Yahweh alone, and they confessed that they had sinned from their youth until that day.
Show What You Know
Why did God say Israel was more righteous than Judah?
What was the one requirement God gave?
What future did God promise in place of the ark?
How does the chapter model repentance?
Crossword
Across
- Has not returned to me with her whole ____.
- Should he ____ to her again.
Down
- Truly the salvation of ____ is in Yahweh our God.
- I will give you ____ according to my heart.
- For I am ____.
Think About It
What is the difference between returning to God in pretense and with your whole heart?
God promised to heal backsliding, not just forgive it. What might it look like for God to heal a heart?
Memory Verse
“I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Jeremiah 3:15 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for welcoming me back. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- How is returning different from pretending?
- How does God heal backsliding?
- What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.