Jeremiah 3 - 5

God reveals to Jeremiah the terrible condition of the nation of Judah.  She has not learned the lessons intended to be learnt from her sister nation, Israel (the northern 10 tribes carried away by Assyria).  As a result of Israel's sin, she was taken captive; yet Judah did not see this as a call to repentence and change.  Instead, she acted much like an adulterous woman, going after as many strange bedfellows as possible.  Jewish law prohibited such a woman from being returned to her husband; but God demonstrates His great love and mercy by wooing His beloved nation back to Himself.  Those who would respond would be restored; while those who continued their lecherous ways would be destroyed.