I always been enchanted with the way this chapter opensIf you look at the text, God’s speech is arranged in a poetic format- Hebrew poems do not look or sound like English poems• Hebrew poetry has a different structure and rules◦ in chapter 1, Jeremiah had expressed his thoughts in prose (the ordinary written form of essays, etc.)◦ but God’s messages were laid out in poems(God's speech is always in greater than the words he uses)• poetry gives language greater force◦ it’s primary objective is to communicate experience (rather than bare information)- this chapter begins with God grieving a failed relationship• there is more than a hint of emotion here: “I remember”◦ it’s as if God is brooding over a cherished memory◦ back when he rescued Israel from Egypt, he was their hero• Yahweh remembers her youthful devotion and “bridal love”◦ they followed him into the desert with reckless abandon◦ they lived in the aura of his holinesshe took care of her – protected and provided for her