How universal it is-appeal to each man's own consciousness.
II. The special aggravation.
'Thy God '—-the original reference is to Israel, whom God had taken for His and to whom He had given Himself as theirs, by His choice from of old, by redemption from Egypt, by covenant, and by centuries of blessings. But the designation is true in regard to God and each of us. It points to the personal relation which we each sustain to Him, and so is a pathetic appeal to affection and gratitude.
III. The bitter fruit.
6 Evil' may express rather the moral character of forsaking God, while 'bitter' expresses rather the consequences of it, which are sorrows.
So the prophet appeals to experience. As the Psalmist confidently invites to 'taste and see that God is good,' so Jeremiah boldly bids the apostates know and see that departing is bitter.
It is so, for it leaves the soul unsatisfied.
It leads to remorse.
It drags after it manifold bitter fruits. 'The wages of sin is death.'
Sin without consequent sorrow is an impossibility if there is a God.