* vs 1-2 - God was rebuking Israel for her idolatry.

* The nation had been closely attached to God, as close as a waist cloth to a person.

* The waist cloth was one of the most intimate forms of clothing and was made pliable by dunking it in water.

* Jeremiah would now be uncomfortable with the thing that should be comfortable (like my son at the beach waddling from rash).

* Because Israel left God He was now going to bring discomfort their way.

* vs 3-5 - Jeremiah had to get rid of the waist cloth - he had to separate himself from it.

* God was going to do this with His people.

* vs 6-9 - Because the waist cloth was buried it was ruined.

* God was showing how the people would be ruined if they didn’t honor Him and remain intimate with Him through total surrender.

* Notice Jeremiah’s obedience - God only spoke to him AFTER he obeyed what he was told.

* Understanding came after obedience.

* We shouldn’t think in terms of effectiveness as much as obedience.

* Bad thinking only considers the results - Good thinking considers the author of the message!

* *** The waist cloth was now useless. Jeremiah could’ve gotten bitter about that.

* Nothing we do out of obedience to the Lord is wasted!

* Here we are thousands of years later talking about what he did!