God used the language of earthly love to draw Israel back to the right path. God reminded them of the 'devotion of your youth' and the 'love as a bride for her husband.' But the people didn't respond. In fact, God closes with a lament: they have forsaken the living water (the Spirit of God) and dug out cracked cisterns for themselves that do not even hold water. In other words, they have rejected the 'real thing' and opted for a very cheap substitute. There is a great difference between an expensive watch and a cheap counterfeit or copy. How much more a real relationship with the living God exceeds any substitutes.

Why did Jesus speak in parables? Many times people do not appreciate what is plain and simple when it is laid before them. It is easy to twist things around or to misunderstand. Jesus was revealing the secrets of the kingdom, and he wanted to ensure that they were properly understood and applied. By speaking in parables, only those with an openness and a seeking attitude would be able to penetrate below the surface. The parables were a feast for those that were spiritually astute and open to change. We should avoid the tendency to hurry through things or to brush them aside after the most superficial of readings or hearings. Being thoughtful, patient, and always desirous of a deeper understanding and experience of God's ways will always bring the rewards we seek.